Harris Wong
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
When I was in elementary school and having challenges with my learning, I was able to see a school psychologist who worked with me to help me use my strengths to learn best in a classroom environment. It was not until I was in high school that I realized that the psychological assessment I did with her had a profound impact on my educational journey. I was fortunate enough to have a coffee chat with her during my undergraduate degree and she was able to explain more about her career and the path that she took to get there. She emphasized that in order to become a registered psychologist in the province of BC, I needed to complete my Ph.D. in a psychology-related program. After some deliberation about my career path, I decided to pursue a graduate degree at UBC!
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
I completed my B.A. in psychology at UBC and loved my time here. It is a world-renowned university for a reason and I was constantly in awe of the beauty and size of the campus. Furthermore, there were great resources for students and I felt well-supported throughout my time at UBC. This was also true for all of the faculty and staff I interacted with in my classes and while conducting my research. I also grew up about 45 minutes away from Vancouver in White Rock, so Vancouver holds a very special place in my heart. I also have a lot of family in Vancouver, so it was important for me to keep close to them. All in all, UBC seemed like the best fit for me when I was planning the next 6-7 years of my life, and as an added bonus three of my family members graduated from UBC as well.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
When looking at possible programs, I wanted a graduate program that was a good split of practical work and research which had an additional focus on working with children and youth. The School and Applied Child Psychology program at UBC fit all of the criteria of what I wanted out of my graduate school experience, and they were one of the few universities in Canada to offer a CPA-accredited program at the Ph.D. level. I also wanted to take my research in the direction of social justice and racism, which fit nicely with the research interests of my current supervisors.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
The biggest surprise I had about UBC was the number of activities that are available for students on campus! There's the aquatic centre, the Museum of Anthropology, the Beatty Biodiversity Museum, the Nitobe Garden, and the list goes on! There are also so many natural beauties close to campus like beaches and Pacific Spirit Park. Students should definitely take advantage of the free activities in and around campus.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
I think for starters, completing my B.A. at UBC helped make me feel prepared for starting a UBC graduate program. I was familiar with the campus and the city, which allowed me to focus more on my program. Having a solid understanding of the process of research in psychology and conducting my own studies helped to facilitate my transition into my UBC graduate program. Furthermore, specifically with my program, I had a lot of past experiences working with children in many capacities including as a cooking instruction, martial arts instructor, summer day camp counselor, and tutor. These experiences aided me in my clinical practicums when I needed to build rapport with the children we were working with.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
My biggest piece of advice for new graduate students make sure to prioritize things like hobbies, physical activities, and relaxation. It is a bit cliche, however, there is an ever-growing pile of work that you need to complete in graduate school and there is no way you can tackle it all at once. By giving yourself more breaks, you can actually help to reduce burnout and be more productive in the long run. What actually works best for me is scheduling blocks of time in my calendar for my hobbies and activities to make sure they are protected and help to reduce feelings of guilt for not doing work at that time. A graduate degree truly is a marathon and not a sprint!
Q54. Outside of your academic work, what are the ways that you engage with your local or global community? Are there projects in particular that you are proud of?
Outside of my academic work, my fiancée and I are involved in the local artist community in Vancouver. We have an online shop where we primarily sell stationery items such as cards and stickers. We also occasionally do in-person markets and conventions where we interact with a large part of the community in Vancouver. It has definitely been an amazing experience and helps to take my mind off of school once and a while.
