Q: Tell us a bit about yourself

Hi! My name’s Clio and I’m a grade 11 student from Ontario. I’m passionate about astronomy, history (especially the French Revolution), mathematics, and neuroscience. During my free time I enjoy knitting, spending time in nature, spoiling my dog Jinx, and reading. Some of my favourite authors include Tolkien, Lloyd Alexander, Neil Gaiman, David & Leigh Eddings and Douglas Adams. However, I also enjoy sports such as hiking, diving, dance, and swimming, where I recently obtained my national lifeguard certification. Aside from extracurriculars, I like volunteering with local non-profit environmental organizations to work on community-based initiatives. But most importantly, I love trying new things and look forward to the amazing experiences I will gain through Shad. 

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

While there are so many aspects of Shad that excite me, I am most looking forward to meeting and forming friendships with other students who are as passionate about STEAM and entrepreneurship as I am (fellow STEAM punks). I am curious to explore new and different fields in a university setting before I apply to university. I’m also excited (and a bit nervous) to try some things that are outside of my comfort zone. For instance, I can’t wait to take part in the Shad design challenge because it will give me a chance to come up with a solution to a real-world problem while improving my problem solving and collaboration skills.

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

I have been fascinated by and curious about STEAM for as long as I can remember. My parents have always encouraged me to expand my knowledge. I grew up watching documentaries about everything from ecology to history to astronomy, but no matter how much information I soaked up, I always wanted to know more. So, I think the thing that motivates me the most is that I genuinely love learning, especially when it comes to neuroscience, biology or astronomy. I find that the pursuit of acquiring knowledge is one of the most fulfilling ways to spend my time. 

Q: How do you envision your future?

I plan on becoming a paediatric neurologist because neuroscience is a passion of mine, and I want to help children with neurological diseases and disorders. When I was suffering from prolonged symptoms from my second major concussion, finding neurologists who were willing to see me was extremely difficult. At one point I had to wait months just to spend 10 minutes with a doctor who was unable to help me. In the future, I want to make sure that fewer children fall through the cracks in the healthcare system and instead get the treatments that they deserve. Additionally, I hope to conduct neuroscience research to learn more about specific neurological disorders and work to create effective prevention strategies and treatments. 

Aside from my career aspirations, I hope that in the future I can give back to the communities that have had a positive impact on my life. For example, the Leadership By Design program (LBD) is a program that helps Black youth develop leadership skills. This program has taught me so much about the importance of self-worth and has shown me that I belong in the career field of my choice regardless of my race, gender, or ethnicity. In fact, it is because of LBD that I even had the courage to apply to the Shad program and the scholarship for Black students. I want to give back to these groups throughout my career so that more Black youth join supportive communities, giving them the opportunity and courage to pursue their dreams. 

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Want to meet the other Black student Scholars? Read their stories