Opening doors and minds: History alumnus reflects on the lifelong impact of her university education

An elementary school teacher, Brianna Condilenios graduated in 2022 with a degree in History and a minor in Counselling and Human Development. She credits her SFU education for providing the foundation, skills, and community connections that shaped her professional journey.

"While I went into university knowing that I wanted to teach elementary school, I was continually inspired by the myriad of other avenues that people around me were exploring," says Condilenios. "It is so powerful to be around people who are ambitious, educated, caring and want to make their mark on the world. It mobilizes you and keeps you continually inspired."

After graduation, Condilenios pursued her Bachelor of Education at the University of British Columbia before landing her dream job teaching with the Burnaby School District. 

What skills did you gain through your SFU education that have been most beneficial to your career?

I think the most valuable thing that I learned was how to build strong relationships with the people that you work with and the people that you serve. Relationships, or at the very least interactions, that foster trust and make people feel safe are crucial to the success of any working environment from teaching to government work to business. Additionally, being able to think critically, and apply what I learn to the world around me and how I support and interact with other human beings is very powerful.

What were your favourite courses? 

EDUC 327: Self, Psychology, and Education with Jeff Sugarman — This course was very powerful as it made me question my own beliefs about education, society, psychology, mental health, consumerism and the individual self. It reinforced how much we need each other as human beings, to always be critically aware of the broader forces that impact your identity as a consumer in North America, and to keep front and center the values of education as a teacher. Having sharp tools to think critically about the world around you, versus being a victim to what’s happening, is so important in today’s world. 

HIST 465: The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict with Paul Sedra — It was really insightful to do a deep dive on an issue that is still largely unresolved and examine the roots of the conflict. I really appreciated how Dr. Sedra navigated the course with empathy and encouraged all of his students to have a keen critical lens. For such a divisive topic, he was able to create and maintain a high-quality learning environment with rich mutual respect for one another and the human beings whose history we were learning about. 

What do you think is the value of an arts degree?

I think the ability to think critically and apply what you learn to the world around you cannot be understated. From learning about counselling theories, to the history of countries from South Africa to India to France, the humanities and social sciences have helped me better understand why the world is the way it is and how to relate to the individuals and communities within it. 

Learning about the humanities and social sciences helps to see beyond what is presented as fact to the everyday person and helps you dig deeper to become a more conscientious thinker. When we understand, we move through the world with a different kind of power. Also, you learn how to cultivate and support a well thought out argument. 

In our society, we need people who can think systematically about the bigger picture to understand issues and propose solutions. We need people who can support and understand human behaviour and emotions; people writing and publishing literature that will educate the public on important issues; people in public policy and law fighting for human rights and positive change; artists that can move people to action through their work or simply provide comfort in a cold world.

We need these people for society to flourish, and it is through the robust tool of education that we can to cultivate caring, passionate, and empowered individuals and communities. 

Anything else you would like to say to our students? 

Explore as many opportunities as you can while in university. The breadth of open doors is truly exhilarating when you think about it. Follow your passions, interests, and most importantly, your heart. Be open to new things, especially if you are unsure of what your future path will be. Take risks and put an effort in. University can feel incredibly daunting at times, but remember the potent power of possibility that exists as you experiment on your journey as a professional.