Program: Honours Earth and Environmental Sciences
Hometown: Toronto, ON
EARTHSC 2FE3 – Introduction to Field Methods in Earth Sciences easily stands out as my favourite course from undergrad. For two weeks, I lived in cabins on Beausoleil Island with professor Maureen Padden and 20 other Environmental Sciences students, exploring the island’s geological landscapes. It was the first time I’d really learned outside a classroom and that shift made everything more real and memorable. This course showed me how powerful community and collective learning can be, which is very different from the tradition lecture-style teaching that we receive. Dr. Padden was the first professor I really got to know and she always brings so much warmth and intention to her students which was felt immensely during this course. Through nights spent around the bonfire, sharing meals and late evenings mapping together, these classmates became true friends, and this became one of my most memorable academic experiences.
Going into my third year, I became a Welcome Week Rep Executive for the Faculty of Science Sciclones. In this role, I met so many wonderful, brilliant students in the Faculty of Science and it was also where I met Ava Colangelo for the first time. Right away, she radiated kindness, empathy, and laughter into every space she entered. I always admired how she managed to stay such a well-rounded person, balancing the pressures of academics with all of her extracurriculars. That same year, we worked together on the McMaster Science Society, and with Ava as my leader in both spaces, I felt more confident and inspired to be my best self. She believed in me, always uplifted my spirit and my capabilities, and has shown me time and time again what it means to be both a great leader and a truly compassionate person. It is because of her that I kept pushing myself, diving into new challenges and opportunities, and reminding myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. I’m so grateful I got to meet her during my time here, and she is a constant reminder of what it means to be an extraordinary student, and person.
During the summer of my third year, I had the incredible opportunity to spend three months living in Western Uganda as an international fellow with Engineers Without Borders. I worked alongside local Ugandan students and stayed in the Nyakayojo sub-region, collaborating on ways to improve irrigation during the dry seasons for local grape farmers. Together, my team and I co-created Optimus Lumina, a portable, solar-powered backpack designed to support their crop growth. However, this experience was so much more than just a technical project. I immersed myself in Ugandan culture and absolutely fell in love with the food, the music, the pace of life, and, most of all, the people. I built real friendships and found a sense of belonging, and it was my first integration into a culture so different from my own. That summer opened my eyes and sparked a deep interest in global understanding and social dynamics, with a thirst to continue exploring and learning more. I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished and how much I grew along the way, and that is thanks to the community I was able to build.
My mom is the person who makes me feel everything so deeply, joy, pride, even the occasional tears, sometimes in ways I never thought possible. Whenever I accomplish something, big or small, she’s the first one there, meeting me with the most genuine love and support, always reminding me how proud she is. The struggles we’ve faced together throughout my life have only made me more grateful to share every milestone with her. From day one, she’s instilled two things in me – love and confidence. She tells me again and again that she believes in me and that I can do anything, and that unwavering belief is what makes me feel unstoppable. No matter what I go through, I know I’m loved because of her. That sense of love and confidence is why I feel like I can chase my dreams and do it all with care and warmth. My mom is the person I’m most proud to show my degree to and I love her with all my heart.
Don’t ever doubt what you’re capable of. It’s so tempting to measure yourself against others, especially with social media and all the ways we see each other’s lives on campus. But your path is your own, and there’s no single timeline you have to follow. As you move through university, remind yourself that you’re right where you need to be, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. What makes McMaster so special is how many ways you can find belonging, and the sheer diversity of people you’ll cross paths with. Whether your passion is theatre, science, poetry, the arts, or something totally random, you’ll find your community here. Take a chance and get involved, even if you’re nervous at first! There will be ups and downs, but each new experience brings you closer to finding your place here. Give yourself time to settle in and be open to what’s ahead, you’ll be surprised by how quickly this beautiful campus starts to feel like home. Looking back on my university experience five years later, I wish I could go back and relive it all again.
Convocation, Students