Megan Albert has been volunteering with the SIG since the new year. She is a student at Simon Fraser University (SFU) currently, and completed a B.A. at the University of Alberta in Anthropology and Classics. She notes “I spent time volunteering for various programs there as a student, which led to me working for the University of Alberta Students’ Union for 3 years. I spent about 7 years on the North Campus, and it’s a much-loved area for me.”
Now we in the IDL are lucky enough to have Megan volunteering for us. She’s been busy packing and moving the past couple of months and hasn’t settled into an “official” role but has been a tireless supporter and organizer of the First Fridays at Five, which is an informal Zoom meeting held monthly (sign up here) for students, people who like students, and people who want to be a student or have been a student. In other words, you are welcome!
Asked to describe her job to a child, Megan replied “I write things that tell people how to do hard stuff.” Megan says she was advised by teachers and professors that she should be a writer, as it’s always been one of her natural abilities. Creative writing or an academic career didn’t interest her and while researching writing careers in corporate areas, Megan encountered technical writing. She immediately decided that it was the perfect fit.
Megan is nearly finished her certificate in technical communication from SFU. “As I await my final practicum course in September, I’m looking for freelance work and developing my portfolio. It feels great to start translating what I’ve learned to real-world applications,” she said. “Keep me in mind if you’re looking for an entry-level contractor!” I guess if all else fails, Megan could seek out her alternate dream job: an interior designer. “I love DIY around the house as a hobby, and doing it professionally would be an amazing creative career.”
Megan kindly took some time out of her busy student/entrepreneurial life to answer some quirky questions for our newsletter:
What’s your most memorable facepalm moment?
– I slipped on some ice at a Red Bull Crashed Ice event, and I accidentally elbowed a lady in the face who was helping me up. The crowd around me oooo’d and gasped and it was very cringe-worthy.
What is your motto or personal mantra?
– I make a point to encourage myself to fight past the fear of failure.
What is your secret guilty pleasure? (it won’t be a secret after the newsletter is published.)
– I love watching The Bachelor/ette, it’s good garbage.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
– My sweet cat Patches purring in my face.
Speaking of Patches…
Birthplace? Currently residing in?
– I was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and I still currently reside here.
What is your most common writing error? What is your worst pet peeve with other peoples’ writing?
– Sometimes commas get away from me, and I end up with too many or too little! A personal pet peeve in writing is using overly formal or niche language to sound more sophisticated. Your message is only as valuable as it is accessible to your audience.
Do you have a pet/pets?
– My partner and I have two rescues. We have Patches, an incredibly sweet and
chunky kitty (see picture above). Not much fazes her! We adopted Pika not even a week ago. She’s an adorable, 7-pound, long-haired chihuahua with a bit of a sassy attitude! They’re getting along great already!