Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m extremely curious, outgoing, and energetic. I love pretty much anything I can do outside like camping, hiking, and fishing. I have two brothers that have helped me stay active and learn how to be patient when dealing with others. I participate in a variety of different sports, but my favorites are archery, volleyball, and badminton. I live in a small town in Alberta and do my best to help the community by volunteering and participating in my local youth and school councils. I’m a proud member of the Metis, Otipemisiwak, people and work at a Metis historical site near my town.
Q: Why do you want to participate in the Shad program/What are you most looking forward to?
I want to participate in Shad because it seems like an amazing opportunity to learn more about the paths that I could take in life. Living in a small town can be amazing, but at times it can feel like you’re stuck. I’m excited to meet people that have the same level of passion for STEM that I have, while still having their own unique perspectives to add to discussions. Even though I enjoy living in a small town, I can’t help but think about all the opportunities that I might be missing out on. Because of that, I’m looking forward to trying new things, learning about different perspectives, and finding out more about the fields that I’m interested in.
Q: What motivates or sparks your curiosity in STEAM and/or entrepreneurship?
Throughout my life, I have had lots of amazing opportunities. These chances to learn more about things that I’m passionate about, and the ones that helped me find new interests, are why I am who I am. I’ve worked hard to be able to get these opportunities, but knowing the profound impact that they have had on my life, I want more people to be able to enjoy the things that I have been fortunate enough to experience. I want to help people find new things that they are passionate about and give them an opportunity to explore the paths that their curiosity can lead them to. The main reason that I’m interested in STEM is because I want to help make a difference. More specifically, I want to help make a difference in the field of immunology. I’ve seen first-hand how autoimmune diseases can affect not only the person that is diagnosed with them, but their loved ones. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at fifteen months old, my older brother was diagnosed with celiac disease at seven. Both of us do our best to keep our diseases from slowing us down, but they always add extra stress to our day. I want to be a part of the reason that people with autoimmune diseases stay hopeful that a cure will be found, and make advancements that help them lead a more normal life.
Q: How do you envision your future?
The future is complicated, and it never goes exactly how you plan. For now, I hope that after I have graduated from university, I’ll work in a lab that specializes in autoimmune research. Whatever happens and whatever field I go into, I know that I’ll be working to make the world a better place, because helping people is one passion that I know I’m never going to let go of.
