Saud Haseeb

LORAN 2018 | SHAD FELLOW 2017
Moira Secondary School
Belleville, ON

Q: How did you feel when you received the news?
A: I was quite surprised! I met a lot of accomplished students at the finals. I was okay with not being chosen because I knew there were a ton of deserving candidates. Winning the Loran, all of Canada has just opened up to me in terms of where I can go to University – everything has changed and my entire outlook for what my next four years look like has changed.

Q: How significant is it for you personally to become a Loran Scholar?
A: Very important to me and a huge deal. My options were limited before the scholarship – I live in a small city. Similar to SHAD, I will get to meet amazing people all across Canada. The internship opportunities associated with the Loran will help me gain a global perspective.

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: Most health sciences or life sciences programs. A general sciences program at UBC or a health sciences at McMaster. Looking at health as a discipline rather than a subject. Really trying to keep my mind open after school.

Q: How did your SHAD Fellow experience prepare you for the Loran selections? Did being a SHAD Fellow come up in your application or in your interview?
A: It played quite a large role. Before going to SHAD and living in Belleville, I was rather limited in my options and exposure to Canada. At SHAD I could see what education looked like across Canada and how students were involved in their communities. SHAD was the first time I was involved in a community of like-minded individuals who challenged me. The community of Loran Scholars will be great to have, just like the SHAD community.

Q: What was your biggest takeaway from SHAD?
A: Besides the importance of community, it’s the importance of passion and pursuing your passion. I saw the manifestation of the different passions individuals had at SHAD – things like coding videos games, and playing instruments in addition to their other skills and talents. This opened up my eyes to the importance of having these diverse interests and being well rounded. Regardless of where you end up, I saw how much these hobbies can contribute to your career.

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: It says to me how much SHAD prepares you for all these types of experiences. It speaks volumes for the quality of the program. It is enlightening to see the values of SHAD and Loran and how they are promoting the same skills and mindsets. Loran furthers the story you started at SHAD. It gives you the tools to take full advantage of your passion and skills that you were exposed to at SHAD.

Meet other Fellow 2018 Loran Scholars