Amy Chea is an economics alumini. She currently works for Fidelity Canada as Quality Assurance Analyst.
Q: Why did you choose to study Economics?
A: Originally I was in the Science and Business program at Waterloo. After about 2 years of being in the program, I realized how unmotivated I was about the science half of the program. I enjoyed the business side of things a lot more, which was more Economics focused. I decided to make the switch in third year and I really believe it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Q: What was your favourite economics course at Waterloo? Why?
A: My favourite economics course at Waterloo was probably ECON 483, Special Topics with Ryan George. During the term that I took it, he was teaching urban economics and I felt like I was able to retain and learn a lot more knowledge in comparison to the theory/math based courses. I never put much thought into why/how cities became cities and how economics plays a major role in geographical development. It was also a great opportunity to get outside my comfort zone as it was filled with lots of participation and presentations. Additionally, Ryan George is such an amazing prof that genuinely cares about his students and wants them to succeed.
Q: What did you decide to do after graduation?
A: After graduation, I returned to work full-time as a QA Analyst for Fidelity Clearing Canada (a subsidiary of Fidelity Canada) after completing an internship there last summer. I also have been working on a lot of personal projects and doing freelance web development, as that is something I’ve always been passionate about and is one of my hobbies. In other words, nothing I’m doing professionally is directly related to Economics, but I still think that being in this program has helped me gain knowledge that’s useful for everyday life.
Q: What was the best part about being involved with the Economics Society?
A: The best part about being involved with the Economics Society was being able to meet and network with a lot of other Econ students and professors. As someone who recently switched in to the program and didn’t know many people at the time, it was a great opportunity to connect with peers and give back to the community. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned is that Econ students are super friendly and always willing to help!
Q: What would be the best piece of advice you would give students?
A: I think the best piece of advice I would give to students in general is to not be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and participate in as many opportunities as you can. A lot of the times, I felt like I held myself back over the fear of uncertainty and whether or not a decision I made would negatively impact my future. At the end of the day, I think taking risks is so important and even if what you’re trying to achieve fails, it’s better than not trying at all