Shad Alum shares how she explored her passion for sports medicine and grew the confidence to pursue her dreams at Shad Dalhousie
From a young age, Rihanat Alawiye knew she wanted to pursue medicine, drawing inspiration from her mom who works as a pharmacist and demonstrates daily the positive impact medical professionals can have on the communities they serve. So, when a guidance counsellor told her about Shad, Rihanat knew it was a unique opportunity to explore her passion for science while experiencing post-secondary life.
“Shad had a lot to do with my interests, like the sciences, and would also give me a chance to live on a university campus for a month away from my family. Going into grade 12, it gave me that university practice. And then just being able to learn about all kinds of different things is always something that interests me.”
During the application process, Rihanat was able to apply for one of Shad’s Entrance Scholarships for Black Students to cover the program costs, which she received in recognition of her excellence as a student and community changemaker capabilities. This was welcome news to both Rihanat and her parents, who had been working to balance their desire to give their daughter this incredible opportunity with other family priorities.
“It was honestly great getting the scholarship because when I was first thinking about applying and I was talking to my parents, we thought it might be easier to go somewhere local. But then after I got the scholarship, I was able to pick campuses like UBC, Dalhousie, PEI.”
Rihanat was able to attend Shad’s Dalhousie campus in Halifax and was thrilled to be at a university with one of Canada’s leading medical schools. Because she is an avid basketball player with a love of sports generally, Rihanat is interested in a career in sports medicine and was excited for the opportunity to engage that interest this summer.
“One of the lectures we had was from one of our Program Assistants who is an Occupational Therapist, which is similar in a sense to sports medicine, and he also knew people that are practicing sports medicine. So, I was able to ask him questions about that and get a real life look into what they do in that profession.”
The ability to interact with and receive support from mentors as part of the program really resonated with Rihanat, as she herself has prioritized acting as a mentor to others. Not only does she love to play sports herself, but she has also started to coach younger teams as a way of giving back to the sports community that has meant so much to her growing up.
“I’ve been able to do some coaching at my school, and I’ve loved being someone that they can always look up to. I always make the friendships within sports a priority, and now in the hallways the students that I used to coach will come up to me and talk to me, and we can bond on other levels. It makes me feel good to be able to help people who may not be able to find that support or that relationship in their own lives.”
Making meaningful connections is something Rihanat loved about Shad, embracing the opportunity to make friends with other youth from across the country while sharing in new experiences she never thought she’d have.
“Shad really did teach me to do things that I never thought I would ever do. Like we went camping in PEI and slept in tents, and I never thought I would ever want to go camping. So, it just taught me to be open, to try new things.”
This increased confidence to take risks and try new things carries a deeper meaning for Rihanat. Her mother immigrated to the United States (U.S.) from Nigeria and holds U.S. citizenship, so Rihanat holds dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship and has dreamed of attending university in Mayland where her extended family lives and with whom she shares a special bond. Being away from home for a month helped her to see herself as ready to take that step.
“Shad gave me the experience of not eating my mom’s food all the time, of getting to places by myself and waking up by myself. It just really gave me confidence to be away from home and helped me prepare for university because I can take what I’ve learned at Shad and apply it there away from home.”
Because her mom has been such a role model in her life, Rihanat is excited to have gained the confidence to pursue her dream of attending post-secondary in the place that helped shape her mom’s life path and career. “I feel like the experience will make me feel more connected to her because I’ll be going back to where she grew up and explore her roots.”
As she finishes her final year of high school and starts her post-secondary applications, Rihanat is grateful for her experience at Shad and the lessons she’ll take with her as she begins her next life chapter.
“When I applied to Shad, I thought maybe it was going to be like doing school, but on a university campus. But it was so much more. We did different trips to different places, so many fun activities, and we learned about different professions and jobs that I never thought I would think about.”
She plans to share her experience with the younger students she coaches and encourage them to get out of their comfort zone, like she did, and pursue their own big goals.
“I would tell them that they should definitely apply. I learned a lot about myself and what I can accomplish. It’s something you’ll never regret, it’s one of the most life-changing experiences that you’ll ever have.”
