Malcolm Berry

Establishing Strong Values

It's because of the Integrated Environmental Planning Program that I now understand what things are important to me and what my values are. This is because over the past two years IEP has exposed me to different types of education and experiences. It inspired me and changed my school of thought. 

After deciding that I wanted to aim for the Geographic Information Systems Program from high school, I stumbled across IEP as a prerequisite. I figured I would endure the outdoors aspect of this program while I tried to complete my diploma. I have now had a change of mind where I see the value in these experiences and actually cherish them. I now look forward to the times where I get to go out into the field, and realize that there are not many courses where I would get to do this. This program has brought me to some cool classrooms.   

It is well known that the School of Environment & Geomatics at Selkirk College is good at getting you out in the field for valuable hands-on experience. However, it can never be stressed enough how important this is when compared to traditional classroom learning.  I've heard from former students and potential employers, the importance of this hands-on experience. Though a reoccurring theme, at the start of the program, this did not stand out to me and I brushed it aside, viewing it as something I just had to do. I have now gone from not necessarily caring about this aspect, to recognizing its value and recommending it to people. 

I used to think that I wanted to live in a city and was fine with the idea of sitting in an office for any potential career that I might have. I now know that where I want to live is more important than having the job that I want. After hearing former IEP students talk, they mention that they often did not get to choose where they end up living because they went where the work was. The environmental side of this program has inspired me to want to live in rural communities or small towns. 

Hugh Keenleyside Dam & Blueberry Creek Castlegar B.C. 

Seeing Through New Lens

The IEP program has also allowed me to view the environment through a new lens. An example of this is before the program I would view a factory or industrial activity as a sign of economic growth and a good thing. I can now view such things as the potential impacts it may have on the surrounding environment and how there needs to be a balance. IEP has inspired me to take these things into consideration with what ever line of work I end up going into. I want to actively fight to mitigate environmental impacts which is something I have never felt before.  

Although, this program is but a steppingstone towards my end goal, it has taught me a lot about the field in the best way possible. It has inspired the environmental planner within me, of which I did not know was there. I now know what direction I want to head in as well as look fondly upon the experiences this course has exposed me to.