3rd-year student in the Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) Specialized Honors program in Law, Justice, and Public Policy stream.

My name is Nyarai Chidemo and I am a 3rd-year student in the Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) Specialized Honors program in Law, Justice, and Public Policy stream.

I previously pursued Accounting and Administrative Studies Diplomas respectively. This helped me to secure employment while raising a young child. However, I was only as fulfilled as the next paycheck lasted, even though I had a good job.

I risked it all to return to school as a full-time mature student and enrolled in the BPA program. This has been the best decision I have ever made in my life. I remember my first class in my first year was in AP/PPAS 2110 3.0 Canadian Government with Professor Constantinou. This class gave me an instant sense of belonging as the professor was very accommodating and helpful, making my transition much easier.

Having migrated from Africa, I have always been passionate about mentorship and empowering girls through education. Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” For this reason, outside of school, I mentor girls in my community between the ages of 13-18, providing them with educational tools and resources to pursue STEM subjects and entrepreneurship pathways for a sustainable future.

I also decided to join the School of Public Policy and Administration Student Association (PPASA) which has created many opportunities for me to network with like-minded students. I am proud to say that being part of the BPA program has allowed me to utilize the skills learned for my personal development. For example, in AP/PPAS 3135 Public Law I I learned how to explicate and summarize a court case, which in turn helped me most recently in winning the Moot Law Society Competition last semester.

My advice to anyone considering the BPA program is to be engaged and involved. Your experience is much better when you can glean from others’ intelligence and experiences.