Taralyn Niggli has enriched her education at the University of Lethbridge through field schools, independent studies, and active involvement in the Archaeology Club. She credits the university’s supportive community, experiential learning opportunities, and impactful professors, particularly Drs. Shawn Bubel and Kevin McGeough for fostering her passion for archaeology and helping her overcome challenges. Taralyn aspires to a career in professional archaeology, with a focus on meaningful Indigenous collaboration in Alberta, particularly within Treaty 7 territory.
The friends that I made throughout my degree deeply impacted my experience at ULethbridge. I found a group of people who loved and supported me unlike anyone else, and I truly feel I found a family here. Without them, I can say with 100% certainty that I wouldn’t have made it through this degree.
Meet Taralyn | Creative. Passionate. Dedicated.
Program: Bachelor of Science | Major: Archaeology and Geography
Why did you choose ULethbridge?
I chose the University of Lethbridge for a couple of different reasons, but the main one was the size of the university. I knew I would make personal connections/experiences with professors and peers, positively impacting my education.
Did you know what you wanted to study before you came to ULethbridge?
It is a running joke within the archaeology department that most people in the program switch into this major at some point during their degree, but I was one of the few who originally enrolled in the archaeology program! Five years later, I am still happily pursuing archaeology academically and professionally.
Please tell us about your experiential or work-integrated learning at ULethbridge.
I have had several different experiential learning opportunities throughout my degree, including two archaeological field schools (one at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in Alberta and the other at Tel Dhiban in Jordan) and an independent study in the Bubel Lab identifying and cataloguing faunal remains. I will also be doing a GIS independent study in the Bubel Lab next spring, digitizing the maps from this past summer’s field school.
Here are my 3 biggest takeaways:
- Hands-on experience is much more valuable/influential than classroom learning, so take the opportunity if you have it!
- Being uncomfortable and pushing your boundaries creates the most growth and also gives you a lot of fun stories to tell after the fact!
- Experiential learning opportunities are very important to building a professional reputation, so take it seriously but don’t forget to have fun!
What is your most memorable ULethbridge experience so far?
Participating in the 2023 field school in Dhiban, Jordan, was by far my most memorable experience! I spent five weeks living, excavating, and learning in a new country with some of my best friends, plus I got to do a great deal of travelling and sightseeing!
How have your professors impacted your education?
I have been very fortunate with the quality of professors I have had throughout my degree, but Drs. Shawn Bubel and Kevin McGeough stand out as the most impactful. I got to know both of them during my first field school in 2021, the summer after I finished my first year. Throughout the following four years, they both fostered my excitement and interest in archaeology, particularly faunal remains and encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone by going to Jordan. They also supported me through the hardest semester of my degree, when things in my personal life were negatively affecting my academics. I cannot thank them enough for all their help and encouragement, and without them I wouldn’t be the academic nor the archaeologist that I am today.
Taralyn seeks out and embraces every opportunity to engage with the past. In addition to her courses on campus, Taralyn has participated in two archaeological field schools (Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in Alberta and Tell Dhiban in Jordan), has worked at Writing-On-Stone, ran the public field experiences at the Bodo archaeological site near Provost, Alberta, and volunteered in the archaeology research lab. She works hard and has fun while doing it! – Dr. Shawn Bubel, Department of Geography & Environment
Is there anyone else who had an important influence on your ULethbridge experience?
The friends that I made throughout my degree deeply impacted my experience at ULethbridge. I found a group of people who loved and supported me unlike anyone else, and I truly feel I found a family here. Without them, I can say with 100% certainty that I wouldn’t have made it through this degree.
Have you received any scholarships and awards?
I received the Board of Governors’ Admission Scholarship and the GSO Bursary and was on the Dean’s List for a couple of semesters throughout my degree. The GSO Bursary is what allowed me to participate in the Jordan field school, so without it, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to travel, learn, and excavate there. That experience was very impactful, for my own personal growth as well as expanding my archaeological skillset.
Are you participating in any extracurricular activities?
I have been a member of the Archaeology Club on campus since my first year and have been on the executive team first as Secretary in my second year and then as Treasurer this year. It has been a great way to engage with other archaeology students, and given me cool experiences like going to Wally's Beach to see mammoth footprints!
What do you like to do in your free time?
My main hobby is music and has been since I was a young kid. I am a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, so most of my free time is spent playing guitar, piano, ukulele, and, most recently, bass. I also love collecting vinyls, despite the toll on my bank account!
What are three awesome things about you?
- My ability to identify bison bones
- My guitar skills
- My tattoo of a raccoon-cowboy (inspired by the Beatles song "Rocky Raccoon")
What are your hopes/plans for the future?
I hope to see a world that is more accepting, less divided, and more supportive of those in need. As for my plans, I hope to continue working as a professional archaeologist as long as my body is able, and to better the discipline through more meaningful Indigenous collaboration within Alberta, and particularly Treaty 7 territory.
What advice would you like to give those about to begin their journey at ULethbridge?
My advice is to not take your time at ULethbridge for granted! It is very easy to fall into the mindset of just wanting to get your degree over with, but once your final year comes around it is easy to see just how much left there is to learn. So take opportunities, don’t be afraid to speak in class, and don’t forget to take care of yourself. Always prioritize sleep and food over cramming for exams! Also, don't be afraid to take fewer courses in a semester if you have the option to! Taking an extra year to finish your degree is worth it if it means maintaining a good GPA and mental/physical health!
Is there anything else you want to share with us about your decision to pursue a university degree?
I faced a couple of big obstacles early on, including starting my degree during the pandemic and the faculty strike in the spring of 2022. However, the main obstacle I faced was my ADHD, which went undiagnosed until the start of my fourth year. It was very difficult to accept that I had struggled for so long, both in my everyday life and within my academics because the symptoms present differently in women, and so I was not diagnosed sooner. However, having the diagnosis allowed me to access support that really improved my life, and especially my academics.
Quick Answers
Favourite class: Archaeological Materials Analysis
Favourite place to study: The Arky Room
Photos submitted by Taralyn
About Shining Students
Shining Students engage inside and outside of the classroom. What makes a student shine may differ from person to person, but they all share a passion for learning. They may be top students, involved in an innovative project, participating in ground-breaking research, playing Pronghorn athletics, fighting for social issues or all of the above! When students find something they enjoy and combine it with what they are good at, they shine.
Each year, the Faculty of Arts & Science's faculty and staff nominate students who exemplify the ULethbridge student spirit. Congratulations Taralyn!