First Year Bachelor of Public Administration

My name is Patrician Bagalwa, a first-year student in the Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) Honours program at York University. I have always been passionate about matters that affect me as an individual and the community in which I live. I am a really caring and dynamic person, who has always been interested in helping others. For me the value of helping others to improve their lives and achieve their goals surpasses any monetary gain. I consider myself as an ally, an activist and an advocate for social justice. Pursuing improvements in policies is a major key in my quest. I thrive for change and equity.

Learning about the BPA program was an amazing opportunity for me because I believe that with the skills and knowledge acquired from this program, I will be able to make an impact and manifest the change I have always wanted to see in different parts of the society.

My experience with the Public Policy and Administration Student Association (PPASA) has been fantastic. I consider the PPASA as a second family, a group of young leaders who are in formation and very much determined to serve our society, fight for change, and give back to the community, and I am proud of myself for being part of the change. Since I joined this association, I have been able to expand my network, gain leadership skills, enhance my personal and professional skills, empower and inspire young people who are willing to make an impact in their communities. We have achieved this through multiple networking events and activities we have organized as a team since the beginning of the year. These include, Starting with Success, Professional Development Workshops I and II, Winter Social, and many more to come.

I must say that the professors, alumni, and staff are doing an outstanding job in preparing responsible citizens for the future. In the space of one year, I have been able to learn a great deal about my responsibilities as a citizen, future public servant, and the public service sector as a whole. Many courses such as AP/PPAS 2110 3.0  Canadian Government, AP/HRM 2600 3.0 Human Resources Management, Micro and Macro Economics to name a few, have played important roles in my learning. To provide effective learning and understanding of the material, there are countless accessible and practical resources at our disposal which makes the learning process much easier and enjoyable.

A simple advice I would like to give to whomever might be interested in joining the BPA program, would be to follow your heart and wherever your passion and interest is. I know you will make a great decision. However, one thing for sure is that you won’t regret choosing the BPA family, merely because it opens doors to new opportunities and meaningful relationships. I look forward to completing my program at York University with success.