Q: Tell us a bit about yourself. 

My name is Nathaniel Lamoureux, I am 17 years old and attending Ohpaho Secondary School in Alberta. Staying active is one of my key priorities which is why I am an active member of my school’s sports teams, including basketball. As well as school sports, I play on club teams outside of school. I love to snowboard during the winter season, especially in the mountains whenever I get the chance to go. One of my hobbies that I deeply enjoy is travelling and experiencing new surroundings. I always love going on those long road trips or plane rides and exploring in a new environment.  I am very grateful to be accepted into the Shad program this year and excited to challenge my abilities in a new environment. 

Q: Why do you want to participate in the Shad program/What are you most looking forward to?  

What I am most looking forward to in the Shad program is the opportunity to experience firsthand what life in university will be like. As a student who plans to attend university in the future after graduation, I feel that it is my responsibility to prepare myself for what life in university will be like. The ability to meet people my age from Canada is a wonderful opportunity, I hope to learn and grow from the collective efforts of my peers. With this program I believe I can immerse myself into the life of a university student which will prepare me for the future and help me gain valuable life skills and knowledge. 

Q: What motivates or sparks your curiosity in STEAM and/or entrepreneurship?  

The root of my curiosity for STEAM is the impact it can have on my future and the world. STEAM encompasses all the fascinating skills I hope to excel in. Through this, I hope to expand my knowledge and gain valuable information I can bring with me into the future. By increasing my skills and immersing myself in the world of STEAM, I hope to improve my abilities. 

Q: How do you envision your future? 

My hopes for the future are to take in the valuable skills and knowledge from this program and implement them into post-secondary. I feel that by the end of this program, I will have gained a beneficial head start on my life in post-secondary schooling, where I am hoping to take courses to eventually work in computer engineering research, as well as the possibility of biomedical research. Working in the engineering and medical worlds would allow me to directly affect people’s lives in hopes of creating a better future for myself and my community.