Program: Honours Biochemistry, Biotechnology Specialization
Year: 4th
Stream of study: Co-op
Pronouns: She/Her
Career goal: I aspire to be a High School Senior Science Teacher (Chemistry and Biology)!
How I get involved:
I enjoy participating in the various fitness classes that are offered at UW to stay active (e.g. Zumba and Yoga), and I decided to join the Ballroom Dance Club with a friend this term! I volunteer with Let's Talk Science outreach visits in elementary and high school classrooms during the school year, as well as Chem Lab Days, which is an outreach initiative organized by the Chemistry Department. I have been a Teaching Assistant for courses in the first year chemistry lab, the second year organic chemistry lab, and the second year biochemistry lab! In previous years, I was an Orientation Leader for the Warriors subcommittee where I helped run the school-wide activities for first year students during O-Week.
Why I love my program
I love the Biochemistry program because of all the fascinating topics that I have learned in both my chemistry and biology courses. Also, I liked how my classes were quite general in first-year (I was required to take a course in all the senior sciences - chemistry, physics, and biology), like most science programs at UW. It then became more specialized as I went into my upper years where I had more choice in which courses I took. The wide variety of courses in first year allowed me to ease into the workload of university, as the content was familiar from high school, and I got to learn how the courses in each department are taught.
Why University of Waterloo?
The co-op program was a big draw for me when applying to UW as I was unsure of what career path I wanted to follow when I was leaving high school. I knew what topics I liked to learn in school, but I didn't know exactly what careers were out there. As a fourth year student and after completing four work terms, I'm happy that I chose the co-op program because it allowed me to make great connections, develop skills outside of the classroom, and figure out where I can see myself going after undergrad.