Fourth year Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) Specialized Honours program, Management stream.

My name is Rushell Dissanayake, and I am a fourth-year student at York University majoring in the Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) Specialized Honours program, Management stream. As I am approaching the completion of my undergraduate degree, I am gratified with the amazing experiences gained throughout my post-secondary career.

I grew up with no interest in public policy. I never watched the news and had very little interest about what was going on in the world. That all changed when I stepped into university. My interests began to alter, I became more engaged with how policies are created, the functions of government, and so on. With the BPA offered as a program at York, I am so grateful that I was able to enrol over to this program.

I was solely focused on my academics throughout my first few years at York and failed to partake in the extracurricular activities offered. During my third year in the BPA program, I was introduced to the Public Policy and Administration Student Association (PPASA) through my classmates. When I attended my first event, I had the opportunity to meet students, faculty, and professionals in the field of public service, which allowed me to see beyond just the academics provided by this program. I joined the club as a Junior Ambassador in my third year. I became so invested in assisting my fellow colleagues and networking with Professors and professionals through our events, and I was able to successfully transition the position of Director of Outreach for PPASA.

Throughout my time in the program, I had the chance to take courses that revolved around valuable skillsets for the workforce. The AP/PPAS 2195 3.0 Professional Skills and Communication course taught me how to enhance my resume, communication skills, interview preparation and much more. As a result, I was able to attain my first job at the OPS as a Policy and Programs Assistant within the Assistant Deputy Minister’s Office at the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. In this position, I oversaw the province’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Supplier Directory that is offered as a tool for businesses across the province to obtain PPE. I also wrote a report about Technology Adoption to the Assistant Deputy Minister. Additionally, the AP/PPAS 4995 6.0 Practicum in Public Administration, provided me with additional hands-on experience in the workforce. I am currently placed at the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services in the Central Production and Verification Services Branch as a Junior Business Analyst. This position requires me to conduct data collection related to transaction volumes and jurisdictional scans, and approve renewals of land registration documents submitted by clients.

Enrolling over to the BPA is by far the best decision I have made in this chapter of my life, and I cannot wait to see what opportunities lie ahead!