We asked Lorenz Pizolinas, one of our 2023 graduates of the PAPM program to tell us more about his experience in the program and his plans for the future. Lorenz graduated with High Distinction from the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management program where he specialized in International Policy Studies: Security and Intelligence
What led you to choose a degree in BPAPM?
What drew me to BPAPM was how versatile the learning experience could be. In high school I was interested in several fields, such as philosophy, economics, psychology, government, history, etc. BPAPM presented itself as a program that would enable me to study topics in all these fields under a cohesive degree. Now that I am done, I can say that I did get to explore a lot of these topics in a way that prevented me from getting intellectually burnt out. I regularly had the freedom to write an assignment or paper about a completely different topic from my previous work in that class or other classes. I found this to be the case even through my specialization courses.
What were the highlights of your experience?
The highlights of my experience includes all the moments I had hanging out with my classmates after school and in extracurriculars. However, I would also count the conversations I had with several professors and teaching assistants throughout the years that led me to discover a niche policy area that I want to devote my life towards. It’s astonishing for me to reflect on my years in the BPAPM program and realize how much my ideas have matured through one-on-one conversations and how I have changed as a person in classrooms and lectures.
What did you learn that you found most important?
Speaking generally, the most important skill I picked up was learning how to write clearly and concisely. In my first few essays, it was almost like I would write every sentence as if I was trying to write the entire essay in that sentence. Quitting that habit and overcoming the anxiety associated with it made it easier for me to write high quality essays.
In terms of academic ideas that I took particular interest in, I would name the security dilemma, the prisoner’s dilemma, conspicuous consumption, social contract theories, emotional diplomacy, and the English school of international relations to name a few.
What advice would you give to students who are thinking about joining the BPAPM program?
First piece of advice is to try to talk to your professors and TAs throughout the class. It’s important to put effort in your work, but it also doesn’t hurt to show effort by asking your instructors for clarification on assignments or even just inquiring about a subject you’re interested in that they know a lot about. I would add that doing small things like this will make you less afraid to seek help later on when you are close to a due date and still need some direction or clarification with an assignment.
Second thing I would say is to remember that you’re not competing with you’re classmates, you’re learning with them. I always found that studying for an exam or preparing to write an essay is a lot more bearable when you’re doing it in a group of classmates who are working on the same thing. In my experience, it was a relief to know that others were struggling with the same problem or idea I was struggling with. Other times, someone in the group would have known something about our assignments I did not by having a conversation with the prof, or attending a lecture I happened to miss. Studying with classmates can also make for some great memories!
What’s next for you?
In September, I am going to be starting a graduate degree at Carleton’s Norman Patterson School of International Affairs!
My niche policy interest is alternative approaches to human rights progression, and I plan to explore it either through a specialization in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, or a thesis paper dedicated to the topic. I also hope to learn Greek and maybe another language, and then take the foreign service entrance exam!