Natasha Vatcher

LORAN 2018 | SHAD FELLOW 2017
Oromocto High School
Oromocto, NB

Q: How did you feel when you received the news?
A: I was super excited. I’m the first in my town to receive it. It’s not just about the money; it’s about the opportunities to meet people.

Q: What are you hoping to do? Do you have a long term goal in mind in terms of the kind of change you’d like to make or be part of? Something in particular that made you perhaps stand out to the selection committee?
A: My plan is to complete a degree in science and then apply to medical school. I will remain a competitive runner and volunteer in whichever community I end up going to school. I’m looking at campuses across Canada now.

Q: If applicable, how much of a role did being a SHAD Fellow have in your selection to be a Loran Scholar?  Did being a SHAD Fellow come up in your application or in your interview?
A: Going to SHAD took me out of my comfort zone. Everyone says it’s a life changing experience, and it truly was! I became more motivated and more confident. SHAD helped me in my interview with Loran because my confidence had grown so much. SHAD allowed me to approach strangers and my peers at SHAD and Loran. I now know I will always have something in common with them.

Q: What was your biggest takeaway from SHAD?
A: That meeting new people can open up so many doors. Coming from a small town, I am often with the same people. I learned to go engage in new things in the world and your community. I recently joined the MP Youth Council because I heard about it at SHAD.

Q: SHAD now has 88 Loran scholars…What does that say to you and what should it say to others about the value of SHAD?
A: SHAD is a program that allows people to explore their interests in the STEAM domain. SHAD is not just about doing a design engineering project; you become part of a community of people just like you. That’s what is so important about SHAD .

Meet other Fellow 2018 Loran Scholars