Pandemic Graduates

Many students had their learning environment abruptly change when the pandemic hit and everything was switched to virtual. But the students who were leaving the virtual classroom behind anxiously wondered what post-graduation life would look like.

Graduating students have related (external link)  their fears about how an unpredictable job market and remote work made it challenging to determine what future jobs would look like. 

Here are the experiences of some School of Journalism alumni who had to switch gears and find ways to cope with the tumult of the pandemic after they graduated in 2021.

What was it like graduating in the midst of a global pandemic and what have you been focusing on since then?

It was super weird! When I graduated in spring 2021, it honestly didn’t feel real because it wasn’t in-person. It kind of felt like there wasn’t a definitive ending to being in school. That’s why it was so nice to go back for an in-person convocation in June 2022. Seeing my teachers and classmates and physically being on campus felt like much-needed closure to a weird last few years of online learning. Since graduating, I’ve just been focusing on my career. As a freelancer, all my work has been remote so sometimes I feel a bit disconnected from the industry. But in recent months, I’ve been attending more industry events and networking with fellow writers and editors in the city, and that has made all the difference. 

What did you originally see yourself doing when you first enrolled at The School of Journalism?

I honestly did not know what I wanted to do when I entered journalism school and I ultimately think that was for the best. Sometimes it’s good to not have a clear path in mind because then you can be open to more possibilities. What helped me figure out what I wanted to do were the extracurricular projects I worked on. I wrote for The Eyeopener (external link)  and worked as an editor for New Wave Magazine (external link) . In my third year, I also co-founded a (now archived) feminist publication, Trick Magazine (external link) . Doing these things helped me realize that I really wanted to write about women’s issues.

After graduating, I began writing for FASHION Magazine (external link) , and it helped me realize I really loved writing about fashion, lifestyle and pop culture specifically. So I went from wanting to write about women’s issues more broadly to being more interested in pop culture topics. 

What story or project are you most proud of?

In the summer, I wrote a piece for FASHION questioning the trend of flat stomachs on the runway (external link) . Working against a tight deadline, it was challenging to fully capture the scope of a big, important topic like fatphobia in the industry, but in retrospect, I’m proud of how it turned out. I think it’s important to question trends and norms in mainstream fashion.

What advice would you give to current journalism students?

If you don’t know what you want to do yet, that’s totally okay. Just try things that sound interesting to you, and you will figure it out! I would also say just enjoy your time there and cherish the relationships you make. Journalism school is actually such a great time for networking. It’s so nice to feel like you have a sense of community with your peers in the industry.

See some of Natalie’s latest work for Fashion Canada here (external link) , Elle Canada here (external link)  and Chatelaine here (external link) .

What was it like graduating in the midst of a global pandemic and what have you been focusing on since then?

It has definitely been wild, because no one saw the pandemic coming and it is not what I envisioned when I joined journalism school. It was interesting because half of my degree was offline, and it was really weird because my internship placement was remote. It was a good experience but I feel as though it could have been a lot better if I was in person. Thankfully, once I had graduated, I was able to get a job that was in-person. I worked at the CBC News Network as an editorial assistant. It was a watered down version of the job, because of the pandemic, we couldn't have many guests in the studio, so my job was mainly focused on scripting. After that I worked at CBC Edmonton and lived there for three months where I finally got to focus on things that I wanted to do: learn more about the behind the scenes of editing videos. The whole experience has been bittersweet so far.

What is the project you are most proud of working on at school?

I did a lot of long-form features for The Eyeopener and one I got really good feedback on was about feeling displaced from your own culture and religion (external link) . It was a piece that talked about how even though you may be a part of a culture, you may not be attracted to or fit into the communities that belong on campus. I, for example, did not relate to the Pakistani or Muslim groups at TMU and many people got back to me saying that they could relate to that, and that was really fulfilling. It was the kind of feedback that I wanted to see. It was eye-opening.

What’s one of your favourite memories from j-school?

First thing that comes to mind: being with my friends in the j-lounge and being kids. It was nice to relate to each other and share in our struggles together in a judgment-free environment. It was really fun and I missed it. It feels like we weren’t in person for long enough. Everyone was so friendly and nice, I miss that.

What advice would you give to current journalism students?

I do follow some of them on social media and they seem to be doing great things! If there is one piece of advice I can offer it would be to become comfortable in being uncomfortable. To definitely step out of your comfort zone because no one achieves anything otherwise. Do things that you didn’t expect to do because you might like it, despite never having thought about it. I started DJing for a while in highschool once (laughs), so you’re never going to know what you like unless you try it first. In my decision to go to Australia on exchange and move to Edmonton, I was deciding to be uncomfortable.

What was it like graduating in the midst of a global pandemic and what have you been focusing on since then?

It was both scary and equally there was a sense of relief. It was so unpredictable because of the pandemic and graduating was something that myself and my classmates were looking forward to as there was this big sense of accomplishment. I had already been struggling to find internships both during the school year and afterwards, I didn’t know what was going to happen and that unknown, was terrifying. But the way that things worked out was pretty great.

What have you been up to since graduating?

I feel very lucky and grateful that post-graduating I was able to get a job right in my field. When I was nearing the end of my last semester, I began freelancing for The Globe and Mail when they were working on the L6P project (external link)  and that was a postal code for an area in the city of Brampton. Someone who I knew in the journalism program who was so kind, said that they were looking for reporters who wanted to partake in this project and they needed someone who specifically was able to converse in Punjabi and Hindi. With that little experience at The Globe and Mail I was able to connect with someone at The Toronto Star (external link)  and get an opportunity at the radio room and in breaking news, for around a year. In a Facebook group for journalists of colour I saw that The Walrus was seeking a digital producer and I was able to land that job, which is where I work now.

What’s one of your favourite memories from j-school?

I loved that after a long day of classes that you could go out with your friends to get a bite to eat or a drink or just hang out and unwind. Doing that with your classmates was really important and felt special to me because there was a bond that we all understood, that no one else could. One specific memory that comes to mind is from second year, when we were close to the end of the second semester and the journalism student union organized a karaoke night where we were singing against RTA. To have everyone singing at the top of their lungs and having the best time - that is a memory I will never forget.

What advice would you give to current journalism students?

Take risks. Go outside of your comfort zone, whether it’s the classes you choose or extracurriculars that you try out or friends that you make - simply putting yourself out there will never hurt. I learned that the hard way and when I did finally muster up the courage to try new things, I did it so much later in my j-school career that there was mild guilt that I should have done this sooner. So my biggest form of advice is: don't be afraid to take the risk.

Editor’s note: Author Dania Ali was also a 2021 graduate and the Gold Medal winner for The Creative School.