Michael Butac

Michael's Experience at Humber

Please tell us about your time at Humber Polytechnic. What was the best part of it?

My time at Humber was an unexpected life-changing whirlwind! The ADMH postgraduate program was only for a year, and I went into it thinking, “this is just going to be a quick little thing I need to do to get the certificate and the practical experience that I came for, and I’ll be on my merry way to get a job afterwards.” But, of course, life had other plans for me! There was an electrifying vibe amongst the cohort I came in with, and generally, I perceived an eagerness and excitement, and a lot of close friend groups were quickly formed. These bonds were amplified with the College strike in Fall 2017. While the strike affected us in some not-so-great ways, the cohort became quite connected. I formed some really good friendships and connections, and even met my partner of 7 years now in this program. In addition to the people, the campus holds great meaning to me. Being close to the waterfront, seeing the Toronto skyline, and being able to walk all the trails was a part of the experience that I never took for granted!

Please tell us about your experience since graduating.

My career took off fairly quickly after my last semester ended. I was able to get into not one, not two, but three part-time positions that were all relevant to what I wanted to be doing after graduation. I probably would’ve added a fourth or fifth, if I had the mental and physical capabilities. That’s how eager and excited I was to apply my learning to a field I cared so much about, and in better understanding myself and the areas and communities I wanted to work with.

I had honestly never felt more successful at a job hunting process than the experience I had after ADMH. The skills and concepts that were taught in the program were extremely relevant to the field. It was evident in all the job postings I was seeing, and in the interviews that I was fortunate enough to be getting. In better understanding these skills and concepts through professional settings, it became clear that what we learned were foundational values that were essential to working and succeeding in the field. These values have become ingrained in me, and not only shape how I approach my professional life, but also my personal life.

What do you find most satisfying about your career choice?

For context, after the ADMH program, I knew that I wanted to pursue frontline community positions for a few years, particularly with the 2SLGBTQ+ community. In working in these social services, I have found so much value and meaning in human connection. The work itself is not always easy, and some of the experiences that people have lived through is not always the easiest to hear about; but being able to sit down with someone and provide that space for them to talk about their past, their present, their future, their ups, their downs, and everything in between, has been so meaningful for me.

In saying that, I knew I would eventually find my way back to school to do my PhD, so that I can pursue a career in academia – teaching at a postsecondary institution and doing community-engaged research. The values that I learned in ADMH continue to influence me in my PhD journey and how I carry out my research, engage with communities, and connect with students. So, there is great satisfaction in knowing that a one-year postgraduate program has significantly changed my perspective and continues to influence my day-to-day life.