We asked Taylor Arnt one of our newest graduates of the PAPM program to tell us more about her experience in the program and her plans for the future. Taylor graduated with High Distinction on November 14, 2020. Taylor was awarded a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management with a Specialization in Development Policy: Rights and Human Development.
What led you to choose a degree in BPAPM?
I knew I wanted to study human rights in grade 11, when my history class covered Canada’s history with the UN and its handling of the Rwandan genocide. That class moved me to want to create a better world for others, and I see policy as integral to finding solutions that ensure a just and equitable world can come to fruition.
What were the highlights of your experience?
Most of the highlights of my degree can be attributed to the ways in which I got involved- serving as VP Communications on AKCESS, leading the student body through two terms on Carleton’s Board of Governors, and working with the Carleton University Indigenous Strategic Initiatives Committee (CUISIC) to create Kinamagawin, a report and list of calls to action to make our university a safer space for its Indigenous community members. I would also add my experiential learning course in Belize and PAPM formal to the list!
What did you learn that you found most important?
While I couldn’t always see it in the early years of my degree, I think PAPM did an excellent job at showing us the political scientists and theorists that shaped the current world we live in today and the models for policy they followed. In our latter years, we were taught to question everything about those models, and to bring our own policy solutions forward from different perspectives- for me, this manifested in my 52-page HRE on finding alternative conceptions of Indigenous identity to the Indian Act.
What advice would you give to students who are thinking about joining the BPAPM program?
Give the program a chance, even if policy isn’t something you fully understand yet. There’s a specialization for you no matter where your interests lie, and you can always change your mind later! And get involved! The more you put yourself out there, the more networking opportunities, policy practice and friendships you’ll gain. I highly recommend being a part of student politics, volunteering or joining a campus club- my life wouldn’t be the same without them.
What’s next for you?
I’ve recently accepted a position working for the Canadian Red Cross as a specialist in Indigenous Community Engagement, so I’ll be doing hands on COVID-19 response work for the foreseeable future. After that, I plan to pursue my next degree in Indigenous law.