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Cassandra Westbrook, originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, graduated in Fall 2026 with a BA with Major in European Studies and a Minor in Theatre. She shares some of her fond memories from her Dal experience, advice for new students, and what she's been doing since finishing her studies at Dal.

What’s next for you? 

Thanks to my degree in European Studies, I am now living and working in Paris, France! I recently signed a permanent contract with a Parisian marketing agency, where I’ll be working as an Influence Consultant. 

My new role brings together many of the skills and experiences I developed during my time at Dalhousie: from the project management skills I developed through my work in stage management with the Technical Theatre program, to the intercultural perspective and knowledge of European languages and cultures that I honed throughout my studies. 

My time at Dal included several opportunities to gain hands-on experience in Europe, including a semester abroad in Macerata (Italy), an EU study tour, and an internship in Paris. I’m excited that these experiences have ultimately led me back to the city of lights, where I can begin my career in a field that combines my interests in communication, culture, and international collaboration.

Please share a favorite experience or fond memory from your time as a student in Dal’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

I have so many fond memories of my time at Dalhousie! I began my studies in the Technical Theatre program and had the chance to work on five shows with DalTheatre over the course of my first two academic years. After changing my major to European Studies, I made a whole new set of wonderful memories, from Dr. Zaiotti’s model EU simulation to the EU study tour I took in partnership with UVic, where we got to explore the European Union firsthand across three weeks in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany.

If you could give one piece of advice to an incoming first-year student, what would it be? 

My biggest piece of advice would be to stay open to opportunities, even if they lead you somewhere unexpected! I started my degree in Technical Theatre before changing my major to European Studies, took time away from my studies to work and pursue international opportunities, and some of the experiences that have shaped my path the most were things I never could have planned for when I first arrived at Dal. 

Study abroad, try something outside your program, do an internship, meet people from different backgrounds, and don’t be afraid if your timeline looks different from everyone else’s. You’re here to build a life that your future self will be happy to wake up to each day, so take your time, give yourself permission to change your mind, and enjoy the process of becoming!