Ryan Butler
I graduated from VIU in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree, majoring in Sociology and Political Science. Afterwards, I earned a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Victoria, specializing in the interdisciplinary Social Cultural and Political Thought Program. And currently, I am a second-year student in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Law. Throughout each of these experiences, my success has stemmed from the academic skills I developed at VIU, such as critical reading, purposive researching, time management, etcetera. Of these skills, the most useful has been the power of listening. By this, I mean a form of academic curiosity that compels engagement beyond the mere internalization of a course’s content. VIU fosters this curiosity by supporting an academic community that encourages students to meet directly with their professors to clarify concepts, discuss projects, or discover sources. This support from professors helped me develop the academic skills for effectively navigating through complex problems, whatever the context. I am grateful for my experience at VIU because these foundational skills have enabled my subsequent successes.