Celebrating Women in Science

When I think of “Inspire Inclusion,” I look back to champions who created opportunities for women and persons from all walks of life, and who encouraged the value of diversity within an organization. Without those champions, I would not be where I am today. In the world of education, no one should be faced with barriers to learning or be blocked from pathways to success, and inspiring inclusion means, to me, a way of allowing everyone to be the best they can be, so that they can in turn, become role models and mentors for future generations. 

The advice I would give to my 20-year-old self would be to “try harder at being yourself and don’t be afraid of letting others see who you truly are." Fitting in socially was something I always struggled with growing up, and in many cases, I had to hide parts of myself that did not correlate well with social or cultural norms. It has required a lot of growth on my part towards self-acceptance and self-confidence after my undergraduate studies, and I am lucky to have had role models and loved ones who have helped me get there and step out of my comfort zone. 

To me, “inspiring inclusion” means taking action at individual and organizational levels, to create structural changes within a system that enable women and minorities to truly belong. Small changes such as nominating a woman for an award, providing travel assistance for young mothers to attend conferences, increasing the representation of women and other underrepresented groups in leadership roles, and providing adequate support to early career staff can have a big impact on fostering inclusion. Representation matters, and for me, inspiring inclusion is elevating one another and creating a space of belonging that makes one person’s path less rocky than mine.

Trust your instincts and follow your truth. Stop trying to fit in, rather, find spaces where you can truly belong. Even though it seems impossible now, life will guide you to your place, and you will be ok. Have the courage to be vulnerable, to be imperfect, and don’t let the fear of failure keep you from fighting in the arena. I suffered many setbacks early in my career and every setback hit hard. Over time I understood that I am more than my failures, but it took a long time to learn that lesson. I would have benefited from learning that lesson sooner. 

Inspire inclusion means recognizing contributions made by everyone to help shape who we are.  Much of my research involves investigating how to provide optometric care for marginalized communities and underserved populations. I’ve had the opportunity to travel around the Region of Waterloo to learn about different backgrounds and cultures and have been able to help children who otherwise may not have received vision care. I’ve also been able to translate my research into the classroom and clinic, where I focus my teaching on cultural safety and educate students to become self-reflective clinicians. One of the main themes of my research and teaching is to take a moment and learn from everyone around you.  To me, listening is a key element to inspiring inclusion. 

I would tell myself to venture outside of my comfort zone and take time to learn something new and meet new people. We are so fortunate to be able to learn about different communities and backgrounds, without having to travel far distances.  It’s so easy to fall into the same routine and associate with familiar people, but there is a lot to learn from others who will ultimately have an impact and shape who you are.