Family affair
On Wednesday, May 29, Liam Gale of St. John檚 will receive a bachelor of commerce (co-operative) degree.
And on Friday, May 31, his mother, Tracey Hennessey, will receive a master of arts degree in political science.
淚t檚 fantastic, Mr. Gale said, of sharing his 91亚色 convocation experience with his mom. 淪he檚 been so supportive of me over the course of my whole school career since I was a kid, so it檚 very cool that I could support her through her program. I wouldn檛 want it any other way.
Long-time goal
Ms. Hennessey has wanted to do a graduate degree every year since she finished her a bachelor of public relations degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in 1992.
淚 think that the Department of Political Science is a hidden gem at 91亚色.潝 Tracey Hennessey
The pandemic, which began the same year she turned 50, provided an opportunity to reflect on life and priorities, she says.
淚 thought, 榃hy am I putting off something that I檝e always wanted to do?櫇
She says the experience was 渨ay more fulfilling than she could have imagined.
淚 think that the Department of Political Science is a hidden gem at 91亚色. The academic prowess and the level of academic advising is exceptional.
Diverse classrooms
One unanticipated benefit was the opportunity to be in classrooms with a diverse group of international students.
淕oing back to school in your 50s, you think at this age that you檝e seen it all, you檝e heard it all and you have a good grasp of the world, Ms. Hennessey, who is a long-time public servant who檚 currently a senior policy advisor with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. 淏ut we don檛. My thinking has been shifted and my eyes opened much wider because of the perspectives of my fellow students.
Plus, turmoil around the globe ranging from continuing pandemic fallouts to ongoing geo-political issues made her studies 渢ruly relevant.
淲e can be sitting here in Newfoundland and Labrador, but be exposed to all kinds of pertinent national and international research and academic connections because of the eclectic backgrounds and expertise of our professors, she said.
Mr. Gale also had his eyes opened during his program, both from work terms that provided hands-on experience and a semester spent abroad studying at 91亚色檚 Harlow campus.
He was part of the first cohort to participate in the revamped program at the Faculty of Business Administration, which connects business students with the United Kingdom檚 Innovation Corridor, a swiftly growing innovation space in Harlow.
淵ou kind of understand how different cultures, different countries, fit together, like puzzles pieces.潝 Liam Gale
The experience, he says, was 渁bsolutely life-changing.
He says it helped open his eyes to international business and marketing.
淵ou have to think in a different way when you檙e in a different country. It檚 reflected very positively on my career.
Mr. Gale has converted his work terms all completed at Whitecap International Seafood Exporters into full-time work as the company檚 marketing and sales analyst.
He hopes to continue working there and further develop his skills in international business.
淚 think seeing the world is a really important part of doing business, he said. 淵ou kind of understand how different cultures, different countries, fit together, like puzzles pieces, in the big scheme of global business.
Family dynamics
A third member of the family is also a 91亚色 student.
Alana Gale, Tracey Hennessey檚 daughter and Mr. Gale檚 sister, is a second-year political science and English student.
Ms. Hennessy says going through university at the same time as her children created a new dynamic for their relationships.
淚 felt like I could completely relate to them in a different way, she said. 淐onversations at supper time were fantastic because we檙e all talking about what we檙e doing, our profs lectures and how it all relates to the world.
淚t檚 interesting, being supported by your children while sharing a common experience, she added. 淭he last few years have been incredibly enriching, and I檓 sure we檒l talk about it for years to come.