Does your resume open up

Suln Lee
Publisher

r. Tracy Summerville, Professor of

Political Science at UNBC, is aware of
students’ worries and insecurities as they
prepare to enter into the workforce after
graduation. “Students should remember that
the word ‘university’ is derived from the
Latin ‘universitas’, meaning ‘a whole,” says
Dr. Summerville.

To be prepared, “students should spend
time reading various works of literature,
looking at what the modern expectations
would be. Instead of thinking about a
career end point, consider what you
expect from our society, and what the
problems are that you want to solve.”

Dr. Summerville did
not know

that she would grow to love political science
when she first started her post-secondary
career. In 1982, Dr. Summerville went to

England to enroll at Drama Studio in London.

“Theater is a living thing. It reminds you
of life, because you had to be there and
because it is ephemeral. But it was not the
lifestyle I wanted for the rest of my life.”

After a year studying drama in England,
Dr. Summerville returned to Canada
and began at the University of Western
Ontario. It was there that she met her
lifetime mentor, Dr. Doug Long.

“Professor Doug Long’s political philosophy
course opened up my eyes to a new style

of teaching, and to a new subject. It was

the beginning of my interest in political
science. Eventually I decided to do my

PhD with Dr. Long, and my research was
focused on political climate in Quebec. I

felt the need to learn the French language
for comprehensive research to be done.”

To experience learning French
while staying close

UNBC Life 5

a conversation?

to home, she decided to take an immersion
program at Laval University in Quebec.

“T had never spoken French before,”
Dr. Summerville laughed. “I had to be
an active learner to overcome my fear
of being exposed to new language.”

Dr. Tracy Summerville started to make

a list of words she did not understand
and organized them alphabetically. After
awhile, there were enough words to be
compiled into a personalized dictionary.

“I started making the dictionary in
September semester. By January semester,
my French had improved enough that

I did not have to continue,” reminisced

Dr. Summerville fondly, “the dictionary
was special to me because it became

a record of my progress showing my
dedication in learning a new subject.”

Without knowing it, Dr. Summerville was
assembling skill sets that would eventually
serve a bigger purpose. She stressed how
paramount it is to build a life resume rather
than just to think about a career end point.

“Instead of just focusing on crafting the

words on your resume, students

should also keep a record of their progress.
For example, to expand on your involvement
with a debate society, and have a videotaped
copy of your debate competition speech.”

After returning from Quebec, Dr. Summerville
was still working on getting her PhD when
Professor Doug Long suggested that she
attend a conference in Prince George. It

was to be held at an institution called the
University of Northern British Columbia.

“T felt unprepared, because I did not

even have my PhD yet! My supervisor
told me to present my paper at the
conference, because they were looking for
candidates to fill the faculty position.”

Dr. Summerville’s life as a whole was
evidence of how capable she was. Not
restricted by her degree, she was able
to present her resume as a narrative
of who she was as a person. She has
been teaching at UNBC ever since.

“I love teaching, | really do. I really

want my students to know that they

do not have to come see me only when
problems arise. There does not need to
be a reason at all! Just come say hi. You
can also ask them how they started their
career, because they have somehow
ended up where they are now. [There are]
some interesting stories to be told.”