Evan Chung, a U2 Economics Major, is the newly minted Vice President of McGill’s Economic Students Association (ESA). He is dedicated to making a platform for students to become involved in seeing their school association voice their matters and reflect their needs.
What sets Evan apart from most business enthusiasts is his extensive knowledge of the political world and humanitarian duties, a combination which makes him an asset in any situation. With a zeal for the financial world, Evan is prepared to take on any work. He credits his love for sushi (and all other foods, really) as a drive for him to work hard so he can treat himself to foodie adventures every single day.
What are you excited to see the most this year? Since economics is a large program, presented in both Faculty of Arts and Management, I am excited to see more interactions with other departments and faculties for more integrated relations in the future.
Are there any big changes for the McGill ESA? There’s no major change for ESA yet, but the economics department did make a big change in its program in the previous school year. The economics major program requires Calculus 1 or other equivalent courses as a prerequisite for 400 level courses, meaning that all students need to take the course, since a minimum of 6 credits in 400 level courses or higher are needed to complete the program. The decision of the department is expected to enhance the quantitative knowledge of students in economics.
This means that the economics students are now better equipped to perform rigorous calculations, an asset in the workforce. So while it may seem daunting, this is actually a step up for the McGill economics major!
Why do you think this is important and of value to students? I think what and how students learn in class are the tools they use in life. Although the economics program itself is more scholarly than practical, the economics knowledge is applicable in numerous fields and industries. In order to acquire the applicable skills, students need to have a deep understanding in the program.
What do you consider to be the favorite part of your job? I think it’s partly that I’m maintaining relations with other departments and associations. The atmosphere is not as bureaucratic as what other McGill students might think. Interacting with professors and students is always fun and interesting, and I’m surely happy to augment relations for the students and others.
Is there any advice or wisdom you would like to impart on other Economic majors out there? Students should have some more focus on learning than just getting a high GPA. Of course GPA is the condition that brings students into the door of employment and graduate schools. However, what is truly valuable is their knowledge and skills. Although a majority of their future careers and academic endeavors are not directly related to economics, knowledge and spontaneous habit of learning are important keys to success for any career in the long-term.
Is there anything else particularly interesting going on with ESA? Although the ESA group itself only consists of executives from the economics program, we host many fun events and conferences for students every year. Additionally, we have just launched a group page on Linkedin called McGill Economics Alumni Network, for a broader interaction between the students, alumni and professors around the world.
Images provided by interviewee.