Sarah Steidl

Sarah Steidl (she/her) graduated from the University of Winnipeg in June of 2021 with a major in Human Rights and a minor in Conflict Resolution Studies. She decided to pursue a degree in Human Rights because of her interest in history and social movements and her strong desire to create a positive impact in the lives of others. She chose the Global College because of its unique program offerings and strong commitment to the student experience. She currently works as a Community Programmer at the NorWest Youth Hub.

Steidl’s fondest memory of her time at the Global College is participating in the practicum program. Steidl says, “Completing a practicum placement allowed me to spend time at 1JustCity, an organization that operates a drop-in community space in the West End. Through this experience, I was able to meet so many amazing people and build the hands-on skills that will allow me to continue to grow throughout my career. Something that really resonated with me was the strong sense of community created through the connections built between staff, volunteers, and community members. My placement at 1JustCity allowed me to gain hands-on experience working in a community-based organization and to put into practice everything that I learned throughout my degree."

Her favourite thing about the Global College was the expertise of her professors and their ability to engage with and academically challenge their students. Steidl says, “One of the advantages of taking classes through the Global College is the small class sizes. Throughout my academic career, I was able to get to know my professors and felt that they were invested in my success as a student. Having these connections to my professors, as well as to the Global College staff, allowed me to feel supported throughout my academic journey.”

A piece of advice that she would give to new students at the Global College is to take advantage of the unique opportunities that this program offers. According to Steidl, “For me, one of the best parts of choosing to major in Human Rights was the multi-disciplinary nature of this field and the ability to take courses in other departments as well. Having the flexibility to choose from a varied list of courses offers students the opportunity to receive a well-rounded education and learn how critically examine concepts and situations in a variety of ways.”

Steidl concludes, “I believe that my time at Global College truly made me a more knowledgeable and socially-conscious person, as it allowed me to understand how and why human rights violations occur on both micro and macro levels and has given me the skills that I need to be successful in my professional life.”