BHSc Alumni Spotlight

What is your favorite BHSc memory?

I am not one to have a definite favourite! Whether it was a crew of us laughing late into the night in the stats lab, a friend and I walking to our research desks every morning in the summer, to making matching squad t-shirts for BSD, or rafting and karaoke’ing on the weekend, I built some very meaningful memories and connections in this program.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself as a student?

To stop putting your worth in your productivity or performance. Let things go! You do not need to belabor each assignment or engage in every extra-curricular or research opportunity to be successful. Take pride in the process of learning rather than in the product, in acquiring knowledge rather than demonstrating it, and in collaborating rather than competing. Above all, learn to listen to, and look after, yourself. Healthy work-life boundaries and balance is invaluable.   

What is the best thing about your current job?

That it is so inextricably intertwined with who I am and my intrinsic strengths, namely in the realms of curiosity, creativity, compassion, and connection; that I get to intimately see and know others – a learning about, that leads to a learning from, as their healing and journeys help to inform mine; that I get to fulfill my truest purpose of helping others to help themselves, which creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond me.

How has your career evolved?

Tremendously! What began as an ‘I’m not sure, maybe med school’ when starting the BHSc program, turned into a desire to help promote health through Health Law near the end of the program. I wrote the LSAT, applied and received acceptance to my top pick, the University of Ottawa JD program! Then, I experienced some very difficult health news, prompting some deep reflection and personal growth; I had to ask myself what mattered to me most. As it turns out, it wasn’t the prestigiousness of law, it was human complexity, meaning, and stories. I decided to instead pursue a Masters in Counselling Psychology and while it took me more than one attempt to get into the program, every piece of me has found a home here. I am currently completing the final research components of my Masters and have been fortunate enough to be employed as a counsellor at a local agency. I look forward to becoming a Registered Psychologist and starting my own private practice in the future… though as I have learned, anything could change!

How did your BHSc degree help you get to where you are now/current career?

Very much so, at every step of the way. I think the BHSc program is an exceptionally rigorous program in comparison to most. The program helped me to cultivate strong skills in writing, time management, thinking critically, even philosophically, and the self-directed process of research. Each of these skillsets have undoubtedly helped to cast my successes both within and beyond graduate school.   

What is the best piece of advice you have received during your career journey?

Take the leap of faith! Show up outside the professors’ office to introduce yourself, go big on an unconventional capstone project, decline the ‘safe’ research position for the one you’re truly passionate about. Have the courage to follow the things the matter to you most even, or especially, if they are out of your comfort zone.