A Week in My Life as a SIPA Social Policy Student!

My weeks at SIPA constantly look different, but this was an especially busy and challenging one to balance. In case you are curious how a SIPA student survives on the daily, juggling midterms, capstone,  and personal life, this blog might shine a light on it.  

Mondays are for Human Rights 

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Generally, first thing Monday mornings I am headed up to the Mailman Public Health School on 168 Street. It is really far up from SIPA, about a 28 min commute. However, the class and location are so worth it. 

First study spot of the week: Vagelos Education Center at 9 am 

I try to arrive a few hours early before class so that I can make use of the building’s study lounge. Generally, I try to catch up on my capstone work. Since my class is on the tenth floor and the building is made up of glass, the view is incredibly gorgeous. So, it just makes doing work more enjoyable. 

First class of the week: Global Sexual and Reproductive Rights at 1 pm 

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The main reason I go up to the Public Health School for my Global Sexual and Reproductive Rights seminar. It is probably one of the longest lectures that I have. About 3 hours long. Sounds exhausting right? But the class is incredibly interesting and interactive. 

Since the start of my SIPA journey, I have wanted to take a class on Sexual and Reproductive Rights. The decision to take this class at first was personal. As I keep getting older as a woman, I have more and more friends whose lives intersect with public policies affecting their health. Even myself. Whether a woman faces gender based violence, needs critical care for their own health, or a young girl just learning to navigate the world in their classroom, policies affect and target women and girls. It can make their lives better … or worse. And, this class is teaching me how to navigate those conversations and policies. 

Since my main intention to join SIPA has been to focus on migrant rights, I also find that sexual and reproductive rights naturally embed themselves in my work. Last semester, I decided to write one of my final papers on Female Gentile Mutilation to help my professor with his clients seeking asylum. Although we have not gotten to it yet ( we are only 6 weeks into the semester), we plan to explore what strategies can help mitigate such forms of gender based violence. 

Second class of the week: Rethinking Human Rights & Humanitarianism  

After class, I have to BOLT back to SIPA for my next class of the day: Rethinking Human Rights & Humanitarianism. I always end up a few minutes late for this class because I am rushing from my last class. 

Last class, we explored why humans should have rights and not animals? Should cyborgs have the same rights as humans? 

Tuesdays are for Capstones and Assistantships

Third class of the week: CAPSTONE! w/ professor 

On Tuesdays, I start the day with a 2-hour capstone meeting with my full team and supervising professor. 

My capstone client is Better Work Jordan. Established in 2008 in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), my capstone project focuses on improving working conditions and enhancing business competitiveness in the garment industry. I love this project because we apply both my interests of migrant and labor. Having taken a class on Fashion Policy and Politics of government last semester, I know how important the garment industry is to women and migrant empowerment, and I am glad I have a chance to explore this further in my project. 

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After capstone, I’m headed to my part-time job at SIPA’s Admissions office. These are the people who help to admit you into SIPA. Not only do they go through various rounds to read your applications, they also provide you with many resources: tours, office hours, and information sessions! So, make sure you go take a look on the web site. 

Lehman time with Koreena and Yasmine 

Usually, if I am not at home or a cafe studying, I am at Lehman. This is SIPA’s library located on the third floor. It is a really gorgeous library, but sometimes it can get lonely because there are no windows. This time my social policy friends joined me and it was a lot of fun. 

Wednesday are for early Political Change and Movement

Fourth class: Race, Gender and Political Change at 9 am 

On Wednesdays, I am headed to an early morning Race, Gender and Political Change seminar at SIPA. Though I usually wake up at 7 am these days, heading up to SIPA at an early hour is challenging. That said, every Wednesday, I fall in love with this class more… as long as I am caffeinated. 

We talk about the importance of a race and gender lens in developing policies and leadership. Within this political climate, where diversity, equity, inclusion is under a microscope, this class gives me hope that it cannot and should not go away. Diversity exists around us, and inclusion is a question of who has a seat at the table. The people that my professor brings in as guests, like the Chief Equity Commissioner at the NYC Comptroller's office, and the students in the class, I know we are still going to embed these policies into our work as we move on as future policy leaders. 

I also recently handed in an Op-Ed for this class. I got to get back in touch with my Canadian roots and write about the Indigenous peoples voter distrust in Canadian elections. 

During the afternoon, I am usually in K-Town because of meetings. So, this is my time to explore new cafes and get work done before my next class. 

Second study spot of the week: Kings Street Coffee 

I TRULY LOVE and ADORE this cafe. The best chocolate chip cookies. The ambiance is also fabulous. I would recommend for an afternoon pick me up. I usually stay at this cafe so that I can get some work done before my fifth class of the week. 

Fifth class: Law, Power and Social Change

This class is one part internship and another part seminar that I get to take with Columbia Law School this semester. For 10 hours a week, I work with the Action Lab on strategies to advocate for immigrants and then attend a seminar on Thursday afternoon to discuss strategies as movement organizers. 

Thursdays doing more Capstone Work and Learning to become an Accountant 

Thursday afternoons, I meet with my capstone group for another two hours without my professor. It is a good time for us to regroup and walk through any issue that we have in our literature review or analysis. I am really grateful for my capstone group because we are on top of our work, but more importantly that we all show up to these meetings. Even though we are all busy, we make sure to come to this meeting. The two hours is always used for fruitful discussion! 

Sixth and last class for the week: Non-Profit Financial Management 

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On Thursdays, I become an accountant… for two hours. Part of the MPA program’s major requirement is to take a financial management course. I am currently taking the non-profit financial management course, where I learn basic accounting, financial analysis, and what makes an organization financially healthy. 

Add some time for some fun

During this evening, I also got to see some of my favourite friends from the social work school for a galentines night. It is so important as a student to make sure you balance all the hard work with some fun and these girls (as therapists in training) make sure I know that. 

Fridays…. 

Usually, I work at the admissions office on Fridays. However, this week was a little unusual and I had a little trip planned to Florida. It is not unusual for SIPA students to take the weekend to go on a little trip.  Definitely, when I got back, I was swamped with work. But, it is important to make sure to mix fun with the loads of work you do at SIPA.