Amid the stress of final exams, I am so glad that I truly enjoy the subjects I am studying. It makes the long days of studying seem just a bit more manageable.

This semester has been a busy one! I’m taking a course in Animal Behaviour that I am very fascinated by, causing me to contact an Animal Behaviour professor to do my Honours Research Project with next year. She works on a variety of projects with solitary bee species, as well as their interactions with plants. I am very excited to get more hands on research experience in the field and laboratory with her next year. I also secured a CO-OP position for this winter at Agriculture Canada working on transferring diseases-resistant genes in wild plant species to crop species.

My CO-OP position this past summer was very interesting. I worked for a University Professor who was doing a Neighbourhood Study in Ottawa, looking at the impacts the local environments have on the health of the citizens. I was able to see more of the city of Ottawa, which was amazing. I learned a lot about the data collection and analysis process, and saw the interaction between the environment and human health first hand. It was an invaluable experience that I will never forget.

This year, I am one of two Co-Presidents for the uOttawa Dance Club, as well as choreographing for and teaching an Advanced Tap class. This has been a wonderful experience that has allowed me to develop my organization, communication and compromise skills. I am so proud of how far the club has progressed in the few years since it was established. We are running 18 great classes this year and will have another great recital in March. I am also part of the organizing committee for uOttawa’s participation in the CHEO Dance Marathon this January. I attended this event last year, and was so inspired by how many people came out and raised funds for the CHEO Foundation that I wanted to be even more involved this year. This September, as shown in the photo, I was a 101 Week Guide for the Science Student’s Association again, and it was another great success. It is so rewarding to bring in the new students, introduce them to campus life and make them feel as comfortable as possible in this new environment.

Overall, this semester has been another great one, and I am continually grateful for the support of the Schulich Foundation.