International Relations Stream

As a first-generation immigrant from Iraq who has witnessed firsthand the consequences of war, Ali Nadhum was drawn to the study of IR because of its relevance to his life experiences. Embracing challenge, Ali credits Trinity One’s unique structure in preparing him well for difficult upper-year coursework and seminar discussions. In particular, he highlights the policy brief in TRN151, an assignment rarely found in first-year courses.

Beyond academic rigor, Trinity One was a key stepping stone in shaping Ali’s critical thinking. The program’s focus on exploring IR’s broad theories in historical trends and political science challenges Ali’s initial viewpoints and enables him to form objective analyses.

Over his undergraduate career, Ali would navigate the difficult IR program alongside commuting challenges, online class transitions, and, more recently, work demands. From May 2022 to September 2023, Ali was one of the youngest in his team at Global Affairs Canada, conducting Open-Source Intelligence research while studying full-time. Through his work, he was directly exposed to the demands of diplomacy, while learning to push through his arduous schedule with the help of a strong support network of colleagues, friends, and family. 

Reflecting on his experience in the IR field, Ali highlighted the importance of being interested in and willing to immerse himself in global politics. “University and Trinity One are there to teach you how to critically analyze world events”, Ali emphasizes. To do so, he advises prospective students to push themselves to find their niche interests and read up as much as possible. Although acknowledging that preconceived beliefs can make some topics difficult, Ali encourages students to view their classes and readings with an open mind, constantly seeking to grow and learn. 

After graduating, Ali will be working with the Royal Bank of Canada’s High-Risk Client Management team as an Anti-Money Laundering/Anti-Terrorist Financing Analyst. I am grateful for the opportunity to interview and be inspired by Ali’s journey. On behalf of the Trinity One community, I congratulate him for his achievement. 

Article: Grace Gaw, Trinity One Program Assistant, International Relations ’24

Like her peers in Trinity One’21, Anna Lysenko began her university journey online, navigating through a sea of closed video cameras and a sense of disconnection from what would have been lecture halls filled with hundreds of classmates. However, in TRN151 and TRN152, she discovered a different world. Here, the seminar-style classes provided a glimpse into the engaging discussion-based environments she would later thrive in during her fourth year. As the year progressed, Anna found herself engaged with professors who were passionate about each week’s new topic and 24 classmates, each with their camera on, ready to uncover a profound interest that would shape their academic path and achievements. 

Anna was always aware she was interested in International Relations, but it would only be through TRN151, a Trinity One course taught by Professor Fitzgibbon, that she discovered the world of cyberpolitics.  Following a class focused on cyberspace and its violations, Anna’s passion for cybersecurity was ignited, leading her to model her TRN151 final project on cyberpolitics and culminating in her receiving the prestigious Laidlaw scholarship. During 6 weeks of research, she would travel to San Francisco to present her findings and conduct workshops on increasing cybersecurity with an NGO. One of the proudest moments in her journey was her capstone project: a 60-page senior thesis analyzing cybersecurity in Ukraine, bringing together her interest in cybersecurity coupled with her identity as a Ukranian. 

Despite her list of accolades, Anna continuously emphasized that there was always more to learn. To prospective students, Anna encourages them to never give up their curiosity, optimism, and determination. Specific to research, she suggests taking quantitative classes, especially statistics for research collection to build their toolbox of research skills and help them craft their research. Beyond that, “study hard and just enjoy university!” 

After graduation, Anna will be an analyst for Deloitte, working as part of their cybersecurity cloud computing team. Taking to heart her advice, Anna looks forward to further developing her technical skills to complement her strong social science background. A heartfelt congratulations once more Anna, on behalf of Trinity One we wish you well in your endeavours! 

Article: Grace Gaw, Trinity One Program Assistant, International Relations ’24

A heartfelt congratulations to the class of 2023! Your perseverance through your education is deserving of celebration! I am grateful to have the opportunity to interview two exceptional graduates from the Margaret Macmillan Trinity One International Relation stream, Maryam and Nivaal Rehman. They reflect on a supportive and positive university experience that significantly influenced their continuing education.

Trinity One Alumni (IR Stream) Maryam and Nivaal Rehman

As students of the Trinity One Program, Nivaal found that the International Relations stream pushed her ideas about preconceived perspectives and Maryam produced long-lasting connections from the program that lasted throughout undergrad. The classes were a strong foundation for their pursuit of international relations: “It was a great way to start our undergrad. Participating in the program was inspiring, and the courses were inspiring.”

The sisters found that the program’s seminar style though challenging, helped them grow. Upper-year courses were easier to navigate and less daunting due to early exposure to extensive research, close interaction with educators, and opportunities for direct interaction and support from professors throughout the program.

Trinity One and U of T had a lasting impact on their global perspectives. In their last year at U of T, the twins won the Adams Sustainability Innovation Prize. Nival was particularly proud of their work with the Sustainability film festival s where they were able to combine their passion for film, storytelling, and UN sustainable development. For Maryam, her proudest moment was organizing orientation for Trinity College, both in 2021 as a mostly hybrid and online experience and then again in 2022 where she directed the return to in-person activities, creating a memorable first impression for new students at the college not once but twice!

To all incoming students, the twins want to let you know to be open and prepared for change. Don’t be overwhelmed by the questions you might still have. You might not be able to learn about everything and might have more questions than you started with, but that’s okay. It’s essential always to have a drive to learn.

They also want to let you know not to feel stuck to one path or feel pressured to follow other people’s paths: “Go out of your way to find courses and programs that interest you and pursue things that are specific or different from what your interests are.” “If you don’t see what you want to get out of university, don’t be afraid to think outside the box and look for other courses.” Finally, for those of you who might be wondering how to make this happen, they advise: “Make sure to take advantage of the campus support; they can help accommodate your needs and passions.”

After graduation, Maryam and Nivaal are excited to attend post-grad at Oxford University. Before they go, they have one more adventure to share. They’ve just been in Brazil to communicate with climate defenders and activists in preparation for creating their first feature film since 2019.

Thank you so much, Maryam and Nivaal, for taking the time to attend an interview. Congratulations on graduating, and best wishes to all graduates and their future endeavours!

Written by: Eugene Seo, Trinity One Program Assistant, Medicine and Global Health ’22

Congratulations to the Class of 2023 on your Convocation! I am grateful to have had the opportunity to interview Quinn Teague-Colfer (International Relations ‘20), an alumnus of the Margaret MacMillan Trinity One Program who is part of the graduating class. He shares fond memories of the program and is excited to enter a new chapter of his life.

Quinn expresses gratitude for the Trinity One program, where he developed meaningful relationships with peers and faculty. Quinn recalls entering first-year with some self-doubt, but he was able to overcome “imposter syndrome” thanks to the program’s supportive community and opportunities to practice both academic and social skills in seminars. Quinn decided to further pursue studying International Relations in his upper years. He thanks the program not only for sparking his interests in this field, but for providing a solid academic foundation for his major.

Having spent half of his time at the university online, Quinn is proud of his achievements during this tough time. Quinn shares that his favourite accomplishment is the work he put into the Trinity One program as a mentor in his upper years, seeing the crucial difference that the mentors made to the program. He feels grateful that he was able to stay connected to this community and form a close bond with the mentorship team. We thank Quinn for his contributions and lasting impacts on the Trinity One program.

Reflecting on his undergraduate experience, Quinn emphasizes the importance of “collaboration over competition” in academia. With regards to Trinity One, Quinn advises students to take full advantage of the resources and support available in the program. He recognizes that everybody struggles and says there is no shame in speaking up about it. Quinn encourages incoming students to be confident in their abilities and prepare to step out of their comfort zone.

Quinn will be attending law school at the University of Cambridge. I would like to thank Quinn for sharing his valuable experiences with us, and I extend my sincerest congratulations to him on behalf of the Trinity One community.

Written by: Jessica Wang, Trinity One Program Assistant, Ethics Society and Law ‘22.

I want to extend my sincere congratulations to the class of 2023. After years of learning in online, in-person, and hybrid settings, you all deserve a meaningful celebration for your efforts! I am grateful to have the opportunity to interview an outstanding graduate from the Margaret Macmillan Trinity One International Relations stream, Tomer Zaidman. He reflects positively on his university experiences propelling him to his interest in continuing education. 

Trinity One Alumnus (IR Stream) Tomer Zaidman

Tomer Zaidman took an International Relations and Math double major alongside a Political Science minor as an undergrad. As a student of the Trinity One Program, he found the experience from the program a “highlight of the first year.” The small community and seminar classes were the best place for him to form companionship and camaraderie. The classes were  rigorous and engaging, as they challenged him to get a glimpse into global policy that traditional students don’t get to experience.

Trinity One professors Dr. Joy Fitzgibbon of TRN 151 – Global Governance and Dr. Arne Kislenko of TRN 152 – Justice and Global Conflict significantly inspired his undergrad learning. His first publication was based on a topic from his first-year foundations courses, and he continues to cite papers from these courses to this day. 

Despite a solid first impression, Tomer had many concerns and worries about campus life. Covid-19 restrictions diminished community building opportunities and made half his degree off campus. Initially, he had concerns about being prepared enough for in-person classes and being driven out of practice for student interaction. Despite these worries, he was comforted by the quick adaptation to online courses and opportunities for learning around campus. He was able to go on an exchange to Denmark, found connections back to music through playing the clarinet. and had significant involvement in the North American Model UN at U of T. 

To all incoming students, Tomer wants you to know that “It will be fine. Classes will be fine, and you will enjoy yourself.” The most significant takeaway he would tell any incoming students is that things will not go as planned, and there will always be a good reason. As for incoming Trinity One students, he wants to tell them not to get caught up with prestige or social pressures regarding program choices and extracurriculars: “Make decisions for yourself and not from the pressures of anybody else.” 

 After graduation, Tomer is excited to pursue his Ph.D. at Stanford’s political studies program, where he can combine his love for mathematics and politics by applying formal theory and game theory in political scenarios. A Ph.D. was not on his radar, but his professors and the academic environment provided by U of T built up his confidence and passion for pursuing a direct entry. He’s anxious but incredibly excited to do what he loves at a Ph.D. level.

 Thank you, Tomer, for spending the time to partake in an interview. Congratulations on graduating, and best wishes to all graduates and their future endeavours!

 Written by: Eugene Seo, Trinity One Program Assistant, Medicine, and Global Health ‘22

To celebrate the Convocation of the Class of 2022, I had the pleasure of interviewing Tessa Di Vizio, Rachel Zack and Sarah Weiner, who are three Trinity One International Relations stream alumni. They graciously shared their experiences with Trinity One, how it affected the rest of their undergrad and their plans following this incredible milestone.

All the alumni cherished their time in Trinity One and highlighted the sense of community that Trinity One fosters, especially in a large University like UofT. They emphasized their ability to develop long-lasting relationships with not only their classmates, but other Trinity One students and even Professors.

Looking back, all the alumni appreciated the rigorous nature of the Trinity One program because it prepared them for the challenges of upper year courses. They were already familiar with much of the content thanks to Trinity One and it helped them succeed for the rest of their undergrad. They were also able to better manage their time and gained experience with complex readings and citations. Additionally, the seminar setting helped them gain confidence with public speaking and debate. Sarah said “the experience felt very much like being thrown in the deep end [but] in the years following I felt so much more prepared, capable and confident because of my experiences in Trin One”.

Each alumnus also credited the stream for influencing their future program decisions as well by developing their interests in different aspects of International Relations. Tessa said that the content from the International Relations stream also helped foster her love for History alongside her International Relations academic interests.  Similarly, Rachel stated that her experiences with her professor encouraged her to also pursue a history major in addition to her International Relations major. Sarah’s exposure to International Relations through the Trinity One Program also led her to pursue an International Relations major with an English major.

Unsurprisingly, their university journeys have seen many challenges, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When classes were moved online, they all felt that they were losing out on their university experience. Rachel couldn’t play her two varsity sports, rugby and wrestling, and also had an exciting study abroad opportunity cancelled. Tessa lost out on the sense of community that she had enjoyed up until the pandemic as well. However, they expressed that there were some upsides like being able to rewind or pause asynchronous lectures or even being a part of online group chats to maintain the social aspect of class. Nevertheless, all the alumni are extremely excited to be able to attend convocation in person and celebrate their massive accomplishments.

This group of alumni has overcome many obstacles that university or the pandemic threw at them and wanted to impart some advice on incoming students. Tessa stressed the importance that there is no one right way to get your degree and urges students to take courses that they are interested in. Rachel emphasized that “you are not your resume” and that your grades or extracurriculars do not define your worth. Sarah highlighted the fact that “you belong in that room just as much as everyone else does, even when you feel like that’s not true” and to not be afraid to fail.

After convocation, each of the alumni will be taking a well-deserved break from academics and starting new careers. Tessa will soon be applying to various master’s programs so that she can pursue her dream of becoming a History professor. Sarah will be studying for the LSAT so she can apply to law schools for the Fall 2023 term.

I would like to thank Tessa, Rachel and Sarah for taking the time to speak with me during this extremely busy and exciting time and wish them all the best in their future endeavours. Congratulations on these amazing milestones and we can’t wait to see what you will do next!

My participation and learning in the Trinity One International Relations stream was integral to my success in HIS344. Trinity One provided me with the most rewarding and intellectually stimulating experience among all my first-year courses. Trinity One exposed me to primary historical sources, foundational literature in political science, the art of research and many more. Specifically, through writing final research papers in Trinity One, my professors supported me and equipped me with the necessary skills to work on long, daunting upper-year course assignments. Most importantly, the rigour of the Trinity One Program taught me to embrace and explore academic challenges. Without Trinity One, I would have imagined or feeling comfortable challenging myself with a third year history course in my second year. Overall, Trinity One allowed me to discover my academic passions and empowered me to conduct effective research.