51ÉçÇøºÚÁÏ

How has the Honours program shaped your academic or personal journey so far?

I chose to pursue an Honours degree in Psychology because I wanted to gain more meaningful, hands-on experience conducting independent research and contributing to knowledge in my fields of interest. I also knew participating in the Honours program would prepare me well for graduate school by giving me a deeper understanding of the research process from start to finish. My experience in the honours program not only shaped my academic journey by helping me gain admission to graduate school, but it also allowed me to engage deeply in a topic I was passionate about. Ultimately, Honours really confirmed that I enjoy conducting research and want to continue doing so in my academic career.

Could you tell us about your involvement and engagement experiences at SFU?

Throughout my time at SFU, I have had the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of communities and experiences that shaped my undergraduate journey. I was first involved in the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Student Union (GSWSSU) for 2.5 years, including serving as GSWSSU president, before joining the Psychology Student Union (PSU), where I have been involved for 3 years, and served as PSU president for the past 2 years.

I also spent the last 3 years serving as a peer mentor, supporting first-year and transfer students as they transitioned to SFU. In addition, I was actively involved in several research labs, including the , , Helping and Happiness Lab, and Through these experiences, I developed valuable leadership, mentorship, and research skills while contributing to communities that were important to me. What I enjoyed most about these opportunities was building meaningful connections with students, faculty, and community members and helping create supportive spaces at SFU. Together, they pushed me to be more engaged, collaborative, and confident both within and outside of the 51ÉçÇøºÚÁÏcommunity.

This award recognizes contributions to inclusion, democracy, and/or reconciliation. What do these values mean to you?

Before starting my undergraduate degree, I knew that inclusion, democracy, and reconciliation would be central values guiding both my academic and community involvement. I wanted to contribute to spaces on campus and to research that uplifted people from diverse backgrounds, particularly those whose voices are often underrepresented.

Through my work with the Psychology Student Union and peer mentorship, I aimed to help create events and spaces that were accessible, inclusive, and low-barrier ways for students to connect with one another, faculty members, and professional resources. I wanted students from all backgrounds to feel that their perspectives and needs were represented and valued within these spaces. I also carried these values into my research, particularly through my honours thesis, which focused on diversity in Canadian newcomers’ attitudes and well-being. Overall, these principles have shaped the way I approach leadership, research, and community involvement, and they continue to influence the kind of impact I hope to make moving forward.

As you reflect on your time at SFU, what has been the most rewarding part of your student experience and why? 

The two most rewarding parts of my student experience were my involvement with the PSU and my engagement with research. Through PSU, it was incredibly rewarding to watch the union and its events grow during my two years as president and to see more students become actively involved in the 51ÉçÇøºÚÁÏcommunity. I felt proud to contribute to making PSU a student group that many psychology students not only recognized, but genuinely cared about and participated in. At the same time, my experiences in research labs were equally meaningful and played a major role in shaping my academic and career goals. Through these opportunities, I discovered a genuine passion for research and was able to apply the knowledge I gained in the classroom to real-world projects and collaborative work.

I owe so much of my undergraduate experience to my supervisors, mentors, and family. I would especially like to thank Dr. Hali Kil for being such a supportive and encouraging honours supervisor, as well as to Dr. Lara Aknin and Dr. Molly Cairncross for their mentorship and support throughout my degree. I would also like to thank Brian Fox from Arts Central for his support as peer mentor coordinator and for always uplifting student unions and student leadership initiatives at SFU. Finally, I am grateful to my family for their constant encouragement and support throughout my undergrad journey.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I will be starting graduate school in the fall at the University of British Columbia Okanagan as a Master of Arts student in their Clinical Psychology program. Ultimately, I hope to pursue both an MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology and become a psychologist, so that I can continue to contribute to those in need both through research and clinical practice.