Sarah-Beth Carlyon ( She/Her )

Bachelor of Humanities, Secondary Educator, Upper Canada District School Board

B.Hum with Combined Honours in English(2006)

What was your experience like in the program and how has your degree helped you career?

I always knew I wanted to be a secondary English teacher, so when I was in my final year of high school, I was fairly open to any program of study that would get me there. The Carleton University recruiter who visit my small rural school sold the College of the Humanities to me when he stated that it is a program for people who like to read. I thought that sounded amazing, so I put together my portfolio, applied, and, luckily, was accepted. 

Throughout my four years at Carleton University, I realized that this program is more than just reading great books. The College of the Humanities program challenged and inspired me throughout the seminars, and I know that this experience is part of what enabled me to become the educator and person I am today. I was exposed to both primary and secondary sources I never would have encountered had I pursued a standard Bachelor of Arts degree. It gave me the English and History qualifications I needed to complete my Bachelor of Education, but along the way, I also studied Religion, Politics, Art, Philosophy, and even Science.

I graduated from the Bachelor of Humanities program with a Combined Honours in English in 2006. I went on to complete my Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa, and I began teaching for the Upper Canada District School Board in the fall of 2007.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to have a varied career in education. I have not only taught in a variety of secondary classrooms but also served as a seconded Curriculum & Assessment Lead for my school board for multiple years. I was a Graduate Teaching Fellow while I earned my Master’s of Education (2019), and I was a program coordinator and professor at St. Lawrence College. I can honestly say I would not have been able to confidently pursue any of these opportunities in the field of education had it not been for my time spent in the Bachelor of Humanities program. In this program, you learn to look at the world around you critically and learn how to engage in conversations that actually result in the mobilization of knowledge, which is key in education. You learn how to work toward a goal because you study how the world got to be where it is today. You gain a better understanding of not only yourself, but the motivations behind human decisions and actions, which ultimately helps you to effectively work with and lead others in the professional world. 

I think back on my time at the College of the Humanities with great fondness. I feel privileged to have worked alongside some amazing people, and to have studied under the guidance of some first-class professors. I would recommend this program to anyone who loves the pursuit of knowledge and is ready to question and challenge the world around them.