International Students / en First-year student to highlight 茄子直播 Mississauga's sustainability initiatives on a global stage at COP29 /news/first-year-student-highlight-u-t-mississauga-s-sustainability-initiatives-global-stage-cop29 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">First-year student to highlight 茄子直播 Mississauga's sustainability initiatives on a global stage at COP29 </span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-11/1107VeraAllue006.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=dg2oA8uR 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-11/1107VeraAllue006.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=aCvvHpIx 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-11/1107VeraAllue006.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=fJI1PWIQ 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-11/1107VeraAllue006.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=dg2oA8uR" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rahul.kalvapalle</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-11-11T10:14:23-05:00" title="Monday, November 11, 2024 - 10:14" class="datetime">Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:14</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>Vera Allue, a first-year 茄子直播 Mississauga student from Spain, is heading to the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/megan-easton" hreflang="en">Megan Easton</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/climate-change" hreflang="en">Climate Change</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sustainability" hreflang="en">Sustainability</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening at UTM is truly inspiring, and it鈥檚 an honour to spread awareness about it in the global community鈥 </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When <strong>Vera Allue </strong>learned that she would represent the University of Toronto Mississauga at <a href="https://cop29.az/en/home">COP29 in Azerbaijan</a>, it reaffirmed her belief that she made the right choice as an international student dedicated to climate action.&nbsp;</p> <p>A first-year student from Spain, Allue says she didn鈥檛 realize the scale of 茄子直播鈥檚 leadership in <a href="/news/tags/sustainability?page=0">sustainability</a> until she came to the university.</p> <p>鈥淚 knew everything here was very modern, and I noticed all the small but important ways that the campus promotes sustainability in areas like waste management and food services 鈥 but I didn鈥檛 know about the systems and infrastructure behind it,鈥 says Allue, who is pursuing a double major in economics and political science with a minor in environmental law and policy.</p> <p>鈥淭hen I read <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/green/transforming-our-campus">UTM鈥檚 [Climate Positive Plan]</a> to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2043.鈥</p> <p>The plan, which includes a commitment 鈥 <a href="https://sustainability.utoronto.ca/operations/climate-positive-tri-campus-commitment/">adopted by all three campuses</a> 鈥 to become climate-positive by 2050, is one of several initiatives that Allue will spread the word about at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, beginning Nov. 11 and ending Nov. 22.</p> <p>She鈥檚 also going to showcase 茄子直播 Mississauga鈥檚 local strategies to address climate change, in addition to its array of educational and research programs on environmental issues 鈥 efforts that have contributed to 茄子直播 being named the most sustainable university in the world <a href="/news/u-t-named-most-sustainable-university-world">in the 2024 QS World University Rankings</a>.</p> <p>鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening at UTM is truly inspiring, and it鈥檚 an honour to spread awareness about it in the global community,鈥 says Allue, who also looks forward to sharing her learnings from the conference with the 茄子直播 Mississauga community when she returns.</p> <p>For Allue, attending the pre-eminent global gathering on climate change is a culmination of her efforts to engage with and raise awareness about climate issues.</p> <p>When she was only 15 years old, she started a recycling and wastewater project in her hometown of Soria in northern Spain. 鈥淚 wanted to educate my peers about what they could do, because climate action is often perceived as something that belongs to powerful stakeholders,鈥 she says.</p> <p>Allue has also been involved with several international organizations that encourage youth to participate in politics and civil society, with a strong focus on environmental issues: she鈥檚 currently a European Union (EU) Young European Ambassador and a member of the European Youth Energy Network, which she will also represent at COP29.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-11/1107VeraAllue004.jpg?itok=_tGvwSxQ" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Vera Allue started a recycling and wastewater management project in her community when she was 15 (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>During her short time at 茄子直播, Allue has gotten involved in several sustainability initiatives, including the UTM Sustainability Ambassador program and the Student Association for Geography, Geomatics and the Environment (SAGE).</p> <p>She says the support she has received from 茄子直播 Mississauga鈥檚 Sustainability Office in attending COP29 is proof of the university鈥檚 steadfast belief in students鈥 potential to effect change.</p> <p>鈥淲hat I'm really looking forward to is bringing to COP29 the sense of belonging and pride that I feel in UTM鈥檚 climate action,鈥 says Allue.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淲hen I first started contributing to the environmental field, I felt like my voice was barely heard. Now I feel so much optimism because I鈥檝e found spaces like UTM that actively encourage young people to speak up and participate.鈥&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:14:23 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 310549 at For this 茄子直播 grad from Sri Lanka, giving up was never an option /news/u-t-grad-sri-lanka-giving-was-never-option <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">For this 茄子直播 grad from Sri Lanka, giving up was never an option</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-11/DSCF6051-CROP.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=0KldRwwz 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-11/DSCF6051-CROP.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=nFVs5S-S 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-11/DSCF6051-CROP.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=GQO7vqRg 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-11/DSCF6051-CROP.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=0KldRwwz" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rahul.kalvapalle</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-11-05T11:08:09-05:00" title="Tuesday, November 5, 2024 - 11:08" class="datetime">Tue, 11/05/2024 - 11:08</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>Rashmi de Silva Wijeyeratne graduated with an honours bachelor of science in psychology from 茄子直播 Scarborough after a tumultuous start to her post-secondary education (photo by Don Campbell)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/alexa-battler" hreflang="en">Alexa Battler</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2024" hreflang="en">Convocation 2024</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/camh" hreflang="en">CAMH</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Rashmi de Silva Wijeyeratne spent three years pursuing an illegitimate degree in Sri Lanka, before starting over at 茄子直播 Scarborough<br> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Rashmi de Silva Wijeyeratne</strong>&nbsp;was only two months away from completing an undergraduate program in Sri Lanka when she found out that the degree she鈥檇 spent years working towards wasn鈥檛 accredited.</p> <p>Wijeyeratne had studied at an institution affiliated with a British university and was told that she would earn a degree from that university 鈥 but when she visited the U.K. and toured the campus, she found out that wasn鈥檛 the case.</p> <p>A devastated Wijeyeratne dropped out of the program, but soon turned her energy towards starting over with her undergraduate studies, applying to the University of Toronto Scarborough鈥檚 Arts &amp; Science Co-op program.</p> <p>On Oct. 29, eight years after she first set out in pursuit of post-secondary education in Sri Lanka, Wijeyeratne crossed the stage at Convocation Hall, graduating with an honours bachelor of science in psychology.</p> <p>鈥淎 lot of people ask me, 鈥楬ow did you restart?鈥 I think so many of us are capable of so much more in terms of resilience,鈥 said Wijeyeratne, now 27. 鈥淲hen we are faced with a situation, you don't just give up, you want to fight, you want to try again.</p> <p>鈥淚t was hard, but I didn't see giving up as an option.鈥</p> <p>It鈥檚 an ethos that Wijeyeratne espoused throughout her time at 茄子直播. Although the setback in Sri Lanka was behind here when she arrived in Canada, there were more challenges lying in wait.</p> <p>Starting her 茄子直播 studies during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wijeyeratne had to do the first month of her studies remotely from Sri Lanka. When she finally got to Canada, she spent two weeks in quarantine in a Toronto hotel, and then, right when she was allowed to leave, her grandfather died.</p> <p>Wijeyeratne had to miss the funeral, as there was no way for her to make it to Sri Lanka on time, and she would have had to quarantine again upon her return to Canada. She couldn鈥檛 see her family for two years due to ever-changing travel restrictions and the fear of being trapped outside of Canada.</p> <p>Despite being alone in Canada, Wijeyeratne threw herself into academics as well as extra-curricular opportunities, albeit on her computer screen. Once vaccines became available and restrictions eased, she got to work reviving multiple campus groups, including as vice-president and, eventually, president of the <a href="https://utscgleeclub.weebly.com/">UTSC Glee Club</a>. She was also finally able to welcome her parents to Canada.</p> <p>A self-described arts kid 鈥 she hails from a family of prominent performers in Sri Lanka鈥檚 musical theatre scene - Wijeyeratne nevertheless developed a love of biology, clinical medicine and health care at 茄子直播.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-11/24172756_1697889886929667_7957807224430537600_o.jpg?itok=7CXiysFn" width="750" height="500" alt="Rashmi de Silva Wijeyeratne playing the guitar and singing in public" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>An avid musician, Wijeyeratne hails from a family of musical theatre performers in Sri Lanka (supplied image)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>She volunteered in several labs and completed a co-op placement at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in the lab of <a href="https://www.camh.ca/en/science-and-research/science-and-research-staff-directory/jeffreymeyer">senior scientist <strong>Jeffrey Meyer</strong></a>, a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine鈥檚 department of psychiatry. Her work led to her being listed as a <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00172-X/fulltext">co-author in the first study</a> to find a natural supplement that reduces post-partum depression.&nbsp;</p> <p>She also completed a work-study position as a research assistant in the <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/labs/cirelli/">TEMPO Lab</a>, headed by Assistant Professor <strong>Laura Cirelli</strong> 鈥 who also supervised her undergraduate thesis 鈥 and went on to work as a lab coordinator there. The lab combines several of Wijeyeratne鈥檚 interests: it鈥檚 dedicated to investigating the psychological impact that music has on babies and children.</p> <p>With Cirelli鈥檚 encouragement, Wijeyeratne presented her thesis 鈥 an investigation into how grandparents connect with their grandchildren over Zoom 鈥 at the <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65fa2ea634036b6933902afe/t/672927313c10c33c5fc05a39/1730750267192/SMPC24_ProgramDraft_v5.pdf">Society for Music Perception and Cognition conference</a> in Banff, Alta. in July.</p> <p>鈥淥ne of the most rewarding parts of being a professor at 茄子直播 Scarborough is working with and getting to know passionate students like Rashmi,鈥 Cirelli says. 鈥淚t was especially inspiring to see Rashmi shine at the conference this summer. She presented with clarity and pride.鈥</p> <p>For her part, Wijeyeratne says being a member of the TEMPO Lab and getting mentored by Cirelli was 鈥渓ife-changing.鈥</p> <p>Outside the research realm, Wijeyeratne also found time to pick up hands-on skills, working her way up 茄子直播 Scarborough鈥檚 Emergency Medical Response Group to become a trained emergency first responder.&nbsp;</p> <p>She's now looking forward to her next chapter: working as a research analyst in CAMH鈥檚 emergency department starting in November.</p> <p>鈥淚t's been such a non-traditional trajectory towards getting here,鈥 Wijeyeratne says. 鈥淏ut my proudest achievement is&nbsp;being able to make my family proud. I鈥檓 so grateful for their love and support and I would not be where I am without them.鈥</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:08:09 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 310444 at 'Hyperpolyglot' 茄子直播 grad speaks 11 languages鈥 and counting /news/hyperpolyglot-u-t-grad-speaks-11-languages-and-counting <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'Hyperpolyglot' 茄子直播 grad speaks 11 languages鈥 and counting</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-07/xin-yi-lim-with-skates-linkedin-crop.jpg?h=89de5153&amp;itok=TTQEGObm 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-07/xin-yi-lim-with-skates-linkedin-crop.jpg?h=89de5153&amp;itok=ysM8sGSr 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-07/xin-yi-lim-with-skates-linkedin-crop.jpg?h=89de5153&amp;itok=EyC_sjxp 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-07/xin-yi-lim-with-skates-linkedin-crop.jpg?h=89de5153&amp;itok=TTQEGObm" alt="Xin Yi Lim wears a graduation robe and a pair of figure skates"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rahul.kalvapalle</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-07-30T09:26:26-04:00" title="Tuesday, July 30, 2024 - 09:26" class="datetime">Tue, 07/30/2024 - 09:26</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>Xin Yi Lim discovered her passion for Hispanic linguistics while completing her bachelor's degree at 茄子直播 (all photos supplied)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/cynthia-macdonald" hreflang="en">Cynthia Macdonald</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/spanish-portuguese" hreflang="en">Spanish &amp; Portuguese</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/linguistics" hreflang="en">Linguistics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/varsity-blues" hreflang="en">Varsity Blues</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Xin Yi Lim, who will receive her master鈥檚 degree in Hispanic linguistics this fall, says 鈥渋t鈥檚 like I have 11 channels in my brain.鈥</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Born in Malaysia, <strong>Xin Yi&nbsp;Lim</strong>&nbsp;was raised in a family where English, Malay, Mandarin and Cantonese were all spoken regularly 鈥 but that was merely a jumping off point for her multilingual talents.&nbsp;</p> <p>The University of Toronto student, who will officially graduate this fall, is conversationally proficient in 11 languages 鈥 five more than are required for a person to be described as a hyperpolyglot.</p> <p>In addition to the five languages spoken by her family, Lim now also speaks Indonesian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Turkish and Swahili.<br> &nbsp;</p> <blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@uoft/video/7432055707408534790" class="tiktok-embed align-right" data-video-id="7432055707408534790" style="max-width: 325px;min-width: 325px;"> <section><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@uoft?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="@uoft">@uoft</a> Meet <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/uoftgrad24?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="uoftgrad24">#UofTGrad24</a> Xin Yi Lim, who speaks 11 languages 馃棧锔 Lim is set to graduate this week with a master鈥檚 in Hispanic linguistics with a collaborative specialization in diaspora and transnational studies from the department of Spanish and Portuguese in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Originally from Malaysia, Lim says she fell in love with Toronto鈥檚 diverse community and hopes to continue living in the city. Following fall convocation, she hopes to pursue a career that combines her passions for graphic design and languages. Discover the full story via our link in bio or at uoft.me/b1j. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/uoft?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="uoft">#UofT</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/convocation?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="convocation">#convocation</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/polyglot?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="polyglot">#polyglot</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/hyperpolyglot?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="hyperpolyglot">#hyperpolyglot</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7432055705501518598?refer=embed" target="_blank" title="鈾 original sound - University of Toronto">鈾 original sound - University of Toronto</a></section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script> <p>And the list continues to grow.</p> <p>鈥淟anguages have opened doors to so many friendships and work opportunities for me,鈥 Lim says. 鈥淟earning them is a genuine way of creating connection.鈥</p> <p>As part of her master's degree in Hispanic linguistics with a collaborative specialization in diaspora and transnational studies from the department of Spanish and Portuguese in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, Lim examined how Spanish evolves and changes for bilingual Colombians in Toronto.</p> <p>Her linguistic journey began at the age of 12, when she began studying Spanish and joined a team that competed in language competitions.</p> <p>In addition to language, Lim also competed in figure skating as a member of the Malaysian junior national team. In fact, it was her skating career that inspired her to learn Turkish 鈥 after encountering the Turkish national team, and their language, at a training camp in Switzerland.</p> <p>Lim didn鈥檛 intend to focus on languages and linguistics when she arrived at 茄子直播. She initially enrolled in life sciences with the intention of becoming a cardiac surgeon. But it wasn't long before she switched to a specialist program in Spanish.</p> <p>A key turning point came when she took a course on linguistic varieties of Spanish taught by Professor <strong>Laura Colantoni</strong>. 鈥淪he鈥檚 an amazing professor and her course was so intriguing, so I decided to pursue linguistics and took more courses with her,鈥 says Lim, who earned&nbsp;an honours bachelor of arts in Spanish with a specialist in Hispanic linguistics and a minor in Latin American studies in 2023.</p> <p>Along the way, she&nbsp;challenged herself by taking a new language course every year: French, Turkish, Portuguese, Italian and Swahili.</p> <p>She didn鈥檛 need to take a course for Indonesian, though. 鈥淏ecause my dad worked in Indonesia for about 15 years, we picked that up too,鈥 she says.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2024-07/Rebel-7-%281%29-crop.jpg" width="300" height="450" alt="Xin Yi Lim poses in a figure skating costume while doing a leg lift"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Lim has competed in and taught figure skating in both Malaysia and Canada</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>While she added to her list of languages, Lim also advanced her prowess in skating as a member of the Varsity Blues figure skating team in 2020 and 2021. She also holds a 1st Kyu in Kyokushin karate and is a bartender, mixologist and graphic designer.</p> <p>Going forward, Lim hopes to continue skating professionally, including by performing internationally as a skater with Disney on Ice.</p> <p>And, no surprise, she also plans to continue expanding her range of languages.</p> <p>鈥淲hen you learn another language, you鈥檙e really expanding your cognitive load 鈥 and that in turn helps you learn your next language,鈥 says Lim, who describes being able to converse in 11 languages as feeling 鈥渓ike I have 11 channels in my brain.鈥</p> <p>She adds that the biggest benefit has been her ability to connect with more people and cultures. 鈥淣elson Mandela said, 鈥業f you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart,鈥欌 she says.</p> <p>鈥淎fter I learned that saying, I never saw languages in the same light. I realized that even if I could only say a couple of words in somebody else鈥檚 language, it would let them know how much time, compassion and effort I have for understanding other cultures.鈥</p> <p>Next on her list? Arabic. 鈥淚鈥檓 so interested to learn it. It鈥檚 one of the most diverse and popular languages in Toronto, but the script is really challenging,鈥 Lim says.</p> <p>鈥淭hat one requires time.鈥</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 30 Jul 2024 13:26:26 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 308535 at 16-year-old physics grad completes 鈥榠ncredible journey鈥 at 茄子直播 /news/16-year-old-physics-grad-completes-incredible-journey-u-t <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">16-year-old physics grad completes 鈥榠ncredible journey鈥 at 茄子直播</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-06/Daniel_1008-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=74Rft4PP 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-06/Daniel_1008-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=-WLPpN9B 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-06/Daniel_1008-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=4oaDyZEO 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-06/Daniel_1008-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=74Rft4PP" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-06-03T11:33:09-04:00" title="Monday, June 3, 2024 - 11:33" class="datetime">Mon, 06/03/2024 - 11:33</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>Daniel Honciuc Menendez, 16, is the youngest to graduate from the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, 茄子直播 Scarborough or U of Mississauga since at least 1979&nbsp;(photo by Diana Tyszko)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/chris-sasaki" hreflang="en">Chris Sasaki</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2024" hreflang="en">Convocation 2024</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-college" hreflang="en">University College</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Daniel Honciuc Menendez carried out research on dark matter detection and theoretical quantum optics</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Daniel Honciuc Menendez</strong> was 11 years old when he took part in a summer program in theoretical physics at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, Ont., in 2019.</p> <p>鈥淚鈥檇 known for a long time that I wanted a career in physics. But it was in this program that I learned for sure that this was what I wanted to do with my life,鈥 says Honciuc Menendez, who is Ecuadorean and was living in the country's capital Quito at the time.</p> <p>The trip was his first visit to Canada 鈥 and made a big impression. 鈥淚 liked the openness of the people and the diversity. So I decided that when I applied to universities, I would make sure to apply to universities in Canada.鈥</p> <p>After completing high school at age 12, Honciuc Menendez received offers of admission from 12 post-secondary institutions in Canada, the U.S. and Ecuador. He chose the University of Toronto, where he received an <a href="https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/faculty-registrar/awards-scholarships#admission-awards-accordion-10">International Scholars Award</a>, and began his undergraduate studies as a member of University College.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2024-06/NASA-Honciuc-Menendez-inside-crop.jpg" width="300" height="400" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Honciuc Menendez at 11 years old at the launch of one of his experiments on a rocket with the NASA Cubes in Space program at&nbsp;the Wallops Flight Facility (photo courtesy Daniel Honciuc Menendez)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Now 16 years old, Honciuc Menendez is graduating with a specialist in physics and a major in mathematics with high distinction. He鈥檚 the youngest to graduate from the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, 茄子直播 Scarborough or 茄子直播 Mississauga since at least 1979, the year the university began tracking such data.</p> <p>鈥淚鈥檓 proud and excited to be graduating,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the culmination of four years of hard work, research and volunteer experiences. I鈥檓 really looking forward to convocation.鈥</p> <p>Faculty of Arts &amp; Science writer <strong>Chris Sasaki</strong> spoke to Honciuc Menendez before his convocation.</p> <hr> <p><strong>When did your interest in science begin?</strong></p> <p>I started reading at an early age. When I was very young, my mother and I moved often to different countries because of her career. During this time, I was surrounded by a variety of books, including math books, puzzle books, encyclopedias and atlases. They became my early companions and mentors. Also, even before starting school, I was captivated by educational videos, websites and apps about math, physics, chemistry and other subjects. Then, at 4 years old, while living in the U.K., I gained early entrance into grade school and became interested in programming and robotics. I attended every science festival I could. It became clear to me that I wanted to pursue a life in the sciences.</p> <p><strong>What was your early education like?</strong></p> <p>Early entrance into grade school in the U.K. was my first 鈥榞rade-skip.鈥 When I was six years old, we moved back to Ecuador and I wanted to learn more challenging material during my classes. After meetings with my new school, I was encouraged to apply to the Johns Hopkins University (JHU)&nbsp;Centre for Talented Youth. Upon passing the entrance tests, I was admitted into the program, which allowed me to take advanced courses.</p> <p>At nine years old, I skipped another grade and started auditing&nbsp;International Baccalaureate&nbsp;(IB) diploma classes in physics and music. Then, when I was 10 years old, I also took the SAT and with its results, I was allowed to skip four more grades to 11th grade and was also able to join other programs like JHU鈥檚 Study of Exceptional Talent. From there, I took a full IB diploma program and graduated from high school at 12 years old.</p> <p><strong>What research projects were you able to take part in at 茄子直播?</strong></p> <p>The first was with&nbsp;Professor <strong>Miriam Diamond&nbsp;</strong>in dark matter detection with the Super Cryogenic Dark Matter Search experiment at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.snolab.ca/">SNOLAB</a>, an underground research facility near Sudbury for neutrino and dark matter studies. I developed and tested dark matter detector simulations and conducted data analysis on remote servers.</p> <p>The second was in theoretical quantum optics with&nbsp;Professor <strong>John Sipe</strong>&nbsp;at the&nbsp;<a href="https://cqiqc.physics.utoronto.ca/">Centre for Quantum Information &amp; Quantum Control</a>, in which I investigated the theoretical optical response for waveguide-quantum dot systems that could be used as the basis for optical quantum computers.</p> <p>Throughout both experiences, the collaborative and inclusive spirit of the physics community really inspired me. The professors and researchers provided invaluable mentorship to me and have significantly shaped my decision to pursue a physics research career involving high-energy physics and quantum information.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2024-06/Hart-House-Chamber-Strings-inside-crop.jpg" width="300" height="450" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Honciuc Menendez pursued his interest in music with the&nbsp;<a href="https://hhchamberstrings.sa.utoronto.ca/">Hart House Chamber Strings</a>&nbsp;ensemble (photo courtesy Daniel Honciuc Menendez)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>What field are you most interested in now?</strong></p> <p>I鈥檓 interested in quantum information and high-energy physics. Quantum information is a unique field that has applications to various disciplines, since quantum computers can solve various problems that classical computers cannot. I want to specialize in quantum algorithms since they鈥檙e essential to realizing the potential of quantum information in its applications, including in my other field of interest, high-energy physics. The more I learn about quantum information's capabilities and its synergy with high-energy physics, the more I realize the significant impact these technologies could have on our understanding of the universe and on advancing computational sciences.</p> <p><strong>What are your plans after graduation?</strong></p> <p>I was honored to receive a full scholarship from the European Union to pursue a master's of science in physics with a concentration in quantum science and technology. The program will take place over two years at the Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, then at Universit茅 Paris-Saclay in France, and lastly at 茄子直播. I鈥檒l be taking courses and developing my career in quantum technology in academia and industry, and exploring the interdisciplinary possibilities of the quantum science landscape, including in high-energy physics, medicine, cybersecurity and finance. Later, I want to pursue a PhD in physics where I can go deeper into the intersection between quantum information and high-energy physics.</p> <p><strong>What are your thoughts as you look back at the past four years?</strong></p> <p>Throughout these years, the support from my friends, professors and mentors at 茄子直播, and the resources provided by University College and 茄子直播鈥檚 Accessibility Services have been invaluable and have helped me navigate the complexities of academic life and the personal challenges of being a young student. Plus, all of this would not have been possible without the unconditional support from my mother, a single mom who has been my constant source of strength and inspiration, and who accompanied me as I pursued my studies in Canada.</p> <p>These past four years have been transformative for me 鈥 not just academically but also personally 鈥 and were filled with challenges, achievements and growth. It鈥檚 been an incredible journey, and I step forward with a heart full of gratitude for the 茄子直播 community, ready for the next chapter of my life.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 03 Jun 2024 15:33:09 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 308058 at Now 茄子直播 grads, three Mastercard Foundation Scholars keen to give back to their communities /news/now-u-t-grads-three-mastercard-foundation-scholars-keen-give-back-their-communities <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Now 茄子直播 grads, three Mastercard Foundation Scholars keen to give back to their communities</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2022-mastercard-foundation-group.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=7UnZ8FCx 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2022-mastercard-foundation-group.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=5bFiCn3p 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2022-mastercard-foundation-group.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=DK1F4ObL 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2022-mastercard-foundation-group.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=7UnZ8FCx" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>geoff.vendeville</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-06-24T12:12:25-04:00" title="Friday, June 24, 2022 - 12:12" class="datetime">Fri, 06/24/2022 - 12:12</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">From left to right: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Gladys Opeoluwa Olubowale, Providence Tatenda Mapingire and Modestus Nzubechi Amaechi.</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2022" hreflang="en">Convocation 2022</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/david-palmer" hreflang="en">David Palmer</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-stories" hreflang="en">Graduate Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mastercard-scholars" hreflang="en">Mastercard Scholars</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The final cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars are graduating from the University of Toronto this spring 鈥 the culmination of their journey from Sub-Saharan Africa to Canada.&nbsp;</p> <p>Nearly a decade ago, 茄子直播 <a href="/news/u-t-and-mastercard-foundation-develop-next-generation-african-leaders">was among the first Canadian universities to partner with the Mastercard Foundation</a> to offer talented students from the region an opportunity to study in Canada on a scholarship covering their tuition, travel, housing and other expenses.&nbsp;</p> <p>Over the years, 茄子直播 has welcomed dozens of bright young&nbsp;students through the current iteration of the program&nbsp;鈥 many of whom were eager to help their communities both locally and back home. <b>Michael Samakayi</b>, a Deaf student from Zambia, <a href="/news/michael-samakayi-international-grad-leaves-his-mark-u-t-asl-club-and-course">helped launch an American Sign Language Club on campus</a> and successfully advocated for <a href="/news/u-t-s-new-asl-course-students-learn-sign-and-better-understand-deaf-culture">an undergraduate linguistics course in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a> that focuses on ASL and Deaf culture.&nbsp;<b>Emmanuela Alimlim</b>, the first from her village in Kenya to study abroad, <a href="/news/family-12-kids-kenyan-village-u-t-grad-working-help-other-women-get-education">founded an initiative to support and encourage students in Kenya</a>&nbsp;who are seeking to access higher education.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淲e are confident that the impact of this inspiring Mastercard scholars鈥 gift will continue to be felt both here in Canada and in Africa for many years to come,鈥 said <b>David Palmer</b>, vice-president, advancement. 鈥淏olstered by the education and real-world experiences they received through this visionary program, these talented young students are already making a difference in their communities.鈥</p> <p>Below, three members of the final, 12-member&nbsp;cohort 茄子直播 Mastercard Foundation Scholars&nbsp;鈥 <b>Gladys Opeoluwa Olubowale</b>,&nbsp;<b>Providence Tatenda Mapingire</b> and&nbsp;<b>Modestus Nzubechi Amaechi</b> 鈥 reflect on their paths to graduation, from their first impressions of Canadian winters to their post-convocation plans.</p> <hr> <h3>Gladys Opeoluwa Olubowale</h3> <p><em>Home country: Nigeria</em></p> <p><em>Studying: Chemical engineering in the&nbsp;Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</em></p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/Gladys-Opeoluwa-Olubowale_photo2-crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 225px;">When I first joined 茄子直播 in 2017, I already knew I wanted to pursue research, which is one of the reasons I decided to join the chemical engineering program.</p> <p>I quickly got involved in research by becoming an undergraduate research assistant in food engineering in my second year. I found many aspects of research work very engaging and rewarding 鈥 from working in the lab to working on a research poster.</p> <p>All this culminated in presenting my research work at Undergraduate Engineering Research Day here at 茄子直播. I found my research work so fulfilling that I decided to work on an independent thesis project. Through this, I went through the process of conducting my research independently in the lab, leading a literature review and presenting to a panel of professors. &nbsp;</p> <p>All the opportunities I was given to explore my research interests further opened my eyes to the inadequate access to STEM education for so many children in my home country of Nigeria. This led me to develop a project to improve STEM education for elementary and secondary school-aged students in Nigeria. I was able to remotely assemble a team in Nigeria and raise funds to teach coding and buy robotics kits for students. Initially, this was meant to be a one-year project, but it went so successfully that my team and I are currently in the process of registering it as an NGO.</p> <p>My 茄子直播 experience has allowed me to bridge my interest in STEM with my desire to give back 鈥 and I鈥檓 most grateful for that.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Modestus Nzubechi Amaechi</h3> <p><em>Home country: Nigeria</em></p> <p><em>Studying: Chemical engineering in the&nbsp;Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</em></p> <p><img alt="Modestus Nzubechi Amaechi" src="/sites/default/files/Modestus-Amaechi_photo-crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 225px;">My 茄子直播 journey has been filled with lots of learning experiences. When I came to 茄子直播 in my first year, it was quite hard for me to really understand people because it seemed that they spoke too fast&nbsp;and my classes were hard to find. The winter season was very difficult for me, and it was hard to navigate my way to class during the winter semester, but with help of the MCF office and the engineering faculty I was able to get through my first winter semester.&nbsp;</p> <p>Another good learning experience for me was running for wellness director of the ChemClub in my second year. I was always reserved in my first year and I didn't engage in any activities as I was getting used to many things, but this role opened me up to many opportunities and connections with people in the chemical engineering department.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Providence Tatenda Mapingire</h3> <p><em>Home country: Zimbabwe</em></p> <p><em>Studying: Finance and economics in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</em></p> <p><img alt="Providence Tatenda Mapingire" src="/sites/default/files/Providence-Mapingire_photo-crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 150px; height: 225px;">Over the course of my time at 茄子直播 as a student at Rotman, I鈥檝e had many opportunities to learn about the world of economics and finance outside of the classroom. Firstly, I &nbsp;secured a position as a part-time junior analyst at FirePower Capital, a Toronto-based investment firm. I learned a great deal from the investment team, many of whom have been working in the finance sector for many years.</p> <p>I was able to parlay that experience into an internship at Credit Suisse in New York on the global market team. Not only did this allow me to further my knowledge of finance and global market trends, but I also got to experience a different culture in New York. As someone who didn鈥檛 have much experience outside of my home country of&nbsp;Zimbabwe until I joined 茄子直播 in 2018, getting to live and work in New York opened my eyes to the different work cultures and social mores.&nbsp;I saw how these customs and behaviours&nbsp;overlapped or differed from my own. In addition, I鈥檝e learned how to better understand and relate to people of different cultural backgrounds.&nbsp;</p> <p>I鈥檝e also had the opportunity to take all that I鈥檝e learned as a student and employee and use it to provide more junior Rotman scholars with advice and mentorship as a career peer at the Rotman Commerce Program. This has shown me the importance of sharing the knowledge one gains with others to help them in their career and in life.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 24 Jun 2022 16:12:25 +0000 geoff.vendeville 175228 at The world comes to 茄子直播: Meet this year鈥檚 Pearson Scholars /news/world-comes-u-t-meet-year-s-pearson-scholars <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">The world comes to 茄子直播: Meet this year鈥檚 Pearson Scholars</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/pearson-group-photo.jpg?h=6ec41484&amp;itok=UJKqqvap 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/pearson-group-photo.jpg?h=6ec41484&amp;itok=qZiqbKdf 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/pearson-group-photo.jpg?h=6ec41484&amp;itok=R31Enqbb 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/pearson-group-photo.jpg?h=6ec41484&amp;itok=UJKqqvap" alt="A group photo of the 2019 Pearson Scholars"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>perry.king</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-09-19T09:49:36-04:00" title="Thursday, September 19, 2019 - 09:49" class="datetime">Thu, 09/19/2019 - 09:49</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">茄子直播 President Meric Gertler (centre), flanked by 茄子直播's Joseph Wong and Sandy Welsh, vice-provost, students, pose with this year's cohort of Pearson Scholars (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/perry-king" hreflang="en">Perry King</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/john-h-daniels-faculty-architecture" hreflang="en">John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lester-b-pearson-international-scholarship" hreflang="en">Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/new-college" hreflang="en">New College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>They&nbsp;are 36 future leaders, newly arrived international students who represent 27 countries from around the world. And on Tuesday at Hart House, the&nbsp;latest cohort of Pearson Scholars was officially welcomed to the University of Toronto by President <strong>Meric Gertler.</strong></p> <p>鈥淥n behalf of the entire academic community, welcome to the University of Toronto, welcome to the Toronto region, and 鈥 because most of you are new to Canada 鈥 welcome to Canada,鈥 President&nbsp;Gertler told the students.</p> <p>He urged the Pearson Scholars&nbsp;to embrace all that 茄子直播 has to offer, but also to explore&nbsp;the city-region widely.&nbsp;鈥淚 encourage you to immerse yourself in this very special environment in which you find yourselves and make the most of these opportunities 鈥 in the classroom, on our campuses, but also in the communities around us,鈥 he said.</p> <p>The gathering marked the third year of the <a href="https://future.utoronto.ca/pearson/about/">Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship program</a>, named after <strong>Lester B. Pearson</strong>, a 茄子直播&nbsp;alumnus, former prime minister and Nobel laureate. The program recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, creativity and leadership 鈥 and a commitment to making an impact in their communities.</p> <p>The scholarship covers four years of study at 茄子直播, including tuition, books, incidental fees and residence support. This year鈥檚 students were selected from over 1,200 nominations submitted by high schools worldwide.</p> <p><strong>Joseph Wong</strong>, vice-provost and associate vice-president, international student experience,&nbsp;acknowledged the expectations that Pearson Scholars face. 鈥淵ou will have an impact, go on to do great things, to be great people, but you also can鈥檛 do it alone,鈥 he said.</p> <p>鈥淵ou鈥檙e going have to rely on your friends, family, classmates, the Pearson community, and indeed the community that is the rest of the university.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>At the gathering,&nbsp;<em>茄子直播 News</em> spoke to four of the Pearson Scholars&nbsp;about their lives and their expectations going forward:</p> <hr> <h3>Vidur Narayan Channa</h3> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/0J5A9658.jpg" alt="Portrait of Vidur Narayan Channa"></h3> <p><em>(photo by Perry King)</em></p> <h4><strong>Pathways World School in India<br> Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, New College<br> Social sciences student</strong></h4> <p><strong>Vidur Narayan Channa</strong> moved around a lot as a child, living in India, Indonesia and Malaysia, and often&nbsp;came face-to-face with poverty and slums.</p> <p>Joining 茄子直播, he said, will give him the opportunity to look at ways to make a difference in those slums.</p> <p>鈥淏eing exposed to all these different multicultural environments has shown me the ability of economics, of different fields, to make a change,鈥 said Channa, who plans to major in economics and perhaps&nbsp;public policy, computer science or philosophy.</p> <p>Making a difference is something he takes seriously. 鈥淲e should recognize every day that you鈥檙e in a position of privilege and you have to do something to make people鈥檚 lives better,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what drives me.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Channa said the Pearson&nbsp;scholarship is allowing him to live and study in a city he has admired from afar.&nbsp;</p> <p>So far, it has been going well and he has met a lot of people. 鈥淐ollaborating with them, working together, all the different clubs and activities available here at 茄子直播 鈥 I found that it would be a great environment for me to really build a base for myself in the professional world.鈥</p> <h3>Ecem Sungur</h3> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/0J5A9675.jpg" alt="Portrait of Ecem Sungur"></h3> <p><em>(photo by Perry King)</em></p> <h4><strong>The Ko莽 School in Turkey<br> John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design<br> Architectural studies student</strong></h4> <p><strong>Ecem Sungur</strong> grew up in Istanbul, a bustling city that features a variety of architectural styles in its buildings. It was there that she developed a passion for architecture, writing a guide to design while in&nbsp;high school.</p> <p>Sungur arrives at 茄子直播 intent on taking that passion further.&nbsp;She will be taking a deeper look into the history of architecture and design, and materials, in order to address questions of sustainability.</p> <p>鈥淲e are currently living in a world full of pollution and, even though we are trying to be sustainable, how is it going to be in the future?鈥 she asked.</p> <p>So far, Sungur is immersed in architecture 鈥 in the classroom, but also in&nbsp;club activities on campus. But she has also become close with her Pearson colleagues, who she describes as&nbsp;鈥渆ngaging and inclusive.鈥</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥淲e became like an actual family, and we know so much about each other,鈥 said&nbsp;Sungur. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been nice knowing that coming to a new place like Toronto 鈥 I鈥檝e never been to Canada before 鈥 you have people you know that you can [rely on].鈥</p> <h3>Fondzenyuy TonyLouis Verberi</h3> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/0J5A9656.jpg" alt="Portrait of Fondzenyuy TonyLouis Verberi"></h3> <p><em>(photo by Perry King)</em></p> <h4><strong>St. Augustine鈥檚 College, Nso, in Cameroon<br> 茄子直播 Scarborough<br> Physical and environmental sciences student</strong></h4> <p>This is <strong>Fondzenyuy TonyLouis Verberi's </strong>first time&nbsp;in Canada. The 16-year-old from Cameroon comes to 茄子直播 Scarborough looking to deepen his love for astrophysics and astronomy, his intended area of study.</p> <p>Verberi wants to use his Pearson Scholar experience at 茄子直播 to become a leader in astrophysics in his home country.</p> <p>鈥淚t鈥檚 a golden opportunity,鈥 said Verberi, who also participated in the STEM Aerospace challenge organized by the New York Academy of Sciences In September 2018.</p> <p>鈥淏ack in Africa, especially in Cameroon, astrophysics is a field which has not been developed in the educational system,鈥 added Verberi, who said he wants to pass on what he learns about satellite development, for example, to the next generation.</p> <p>鈥淚 have to be the first one who sets the target for this to be possible in my country. It is an opportunity for me [and] my dreams of adding astrophysics and aerospace engineering into the educational curricula in my country.鈥</p> <p>In the meantime, Verberi's having an easy transition to Canada and 茄子直播. 鈥淚t鈥檚 new and challenging, the educational setup is different from what we have in Cameroon 鈥 the digital nature of the assignments and lectures 鈥 but I鈥檓 picking it up.鈥</p> <h3>Nikiela Baptiste</h3> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/0J5A9669.jpg" alt="Portrait of Nikiela Baptiste"></h3> <p><em>(photo by Perry King)</em></p> <h4><strong>Shiva Boys鈥 Hindu College,Trinidad and Tobago<br> 茄子直播&nbsp;Mississauga<br> Forensic science student</strong></h4> <p><strong>Nikiela Baptiste</strong>, who hails from Trinidad and Tobago, has been adjusting to the 茄子直播 Mississauga campus, a place she says is peaceful and conducive for studying.</p> <p>鈥淚鈥檓 still in the 鈥榗an鈥檛-believe-it鈥檚-true鈥 phase, but I鈥檓 enjoying my time,鈥&nbsp;she said.</p> <p>鈥淚 love UTM,鈥 she added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so cozy and nature-y. I love the fact that it has so many animals like deer 鈥 we don鈥檛 have deer in Trinidad.鈥&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Baptiste has an interest in human anatomy 鈥 how the body works and the effects of chemicals on the body 鈥 and is planning on studying forensic science.</p> <p>鈥淢y main expectation is to maintain a good academic standing and continue to be a part of the community as I participate in extracurriculars,鈥 said Baptiste, who will look at joining 茄子直播 Mississauga鈥檚 research opportunity program in second year.</p> <p>鈥淢y main goal is to get a closer relationship with the professors and understand their research 鈥 and how I can be of value.鈥</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:49:36 +0000 perry.king 158333 at Meet four international students in the incoming 茄子直播 Engineering class /news/meet-four-international-students-incoming-u-t-engineering-class <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Meet four international students in the incoming 茄子直播 Engineering class</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2019-08-29-engineering.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=-8bzB4iA 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2019-08-29-engineering.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=80eFLLoh 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2019-08-29-engineering.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=pOJJfG1B 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2019-08-29-engineering.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=-8bzB4iA" alt="Photo of Urvi Verkhedkar "> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-08-29T14:42:40-04:00" title="Thursday, August 29, 2019 - 14:42" class="datetime">Thu, 08/29/2019 - 14:42</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Urvi Verkhedkar, from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, will study chemical engineering at 茄子直播 this fall </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/liz-do" hreflang="en">Liz Do</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/back-school-2019" hreflang="en">Back To School 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><br> Residence move-ins, Frosh Week and the first plenary lecture from Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering Dean <strong>Christopher Yip</strong>: A&nbsp;long list of activities await more than 1,200 茄子直播 Engineering students.</p> <p>For many, that list also includes exploring Toronto for the very first time 鈥 about one in four come from outside of Canada.</p> <p>Meet four international students&nbsp;from different parts of the world&nbsp;entering their first year at 茄子直播 Engineering.</p> <hr> <h3>Urvi Verkhedkar (pictured above)</h3> <p>Urvi Verkhedkar, a Pearson Scholar,&nbsp;is in chemical engineering.&nbsp;<br> Her hometown is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.</p> <p><strong>Why 茄子直播 Engineering?</strong> I have a huge interest in sustainability, and 茄子直播 Engineering&nbsp;has so many cool courses and minors related to this area, as well as amazing research 鈥 quantum-dot solar cells, studies in urban environments 鈥 and extracurriculars: Blue Sky Solar Racing and Engineers Without Borders, to name a few. I feel that I鈥檒l get incredible opportunities to explore my interests in sustainability here.</p> <p><strong>First-year plans:</strong> I鈥檓 excited to be studying chemical engineering at 茄子直播, and I鈥檓 hoping to pursue a minor in environmental engineering. During my first year, I鈥檓 hoping to join some engineering-related design teams to get some hands-on experience, though I鈥檓 not sure which. I'm definitely looking forward to trying clubs that get me outdoors, such as mountain biking or the Iron Dragons.</p> <p><strong>Future goals</strong>: After I graduate, I鈥檇 like to be involved in a sustainable technology startup, possibly in recycling or eco-friendly manufacturing.</p> <h3>Santiago Gomez Montenegro<br> &nbsp;<img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/2019-08-29-engineering-santiago-resized.jpg" alt></h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Santiago Gomez Montenegro, a Pearson Scholar, is in materials science and engineering.<br> His hometown is Panama City, Panama.</p> <p><strong>Why 茄子直播 Engineering?</strong> I am ecstatic about starting school here because in addition to countless prospects for professional and academic development, the university is at the heart of the city, with great sporting facilities, and an environment that fosters diversity and community-building.</p> <p><strong>First-year plans:</strong> During my first year, I plan to get involved in engineering student clubs, and to search for work and research opportunities. I鈥檓 also looking forward to making friends and playing soccer.</p> <p><strong>Future goals:</strong> After I graduate, I would love to be at the forefront of technological innovations in materials design. I aspire to take developments in the field beyond a laboratory and into a business setting where they can be converted into beneficial products.</p> <h3>Sofia Karter Lopez</h3> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/2019-08-29-engineering-sofia-resized_0.jpg" alt><br> &nbsp;</p> <p>Sofia Karter Lopez is in engineering science.&nbsp;<br> Her hometown is Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.</p> <p><strong>Why 茄子直播 Engineering? </strong>Engineering at 茄子直播 is among the best in the world and the unique engineering science program really drew me in, as I鈥檒l get to learn about all the engineering disciplines and then choose which one I want to specialize in.</p> <p>The PEY Co-op program was also important to me as it will make it easier for me to start working once I graduate. And of course, being in such a diverse and vibrant city like Toronto is a big plus.</p> <p><strong>First-year plans: </strong>The first thing I plan to do is start auditioning for musicals! I want to see if I can join any dance classes or clubs and maybe something related to photography, as that鈥檚 something I鈥檝e been doing for several years now.</p> <p><strong>Future goals: </strong>I hope to have a career in the engineering field but for now, I鈥檓 excited to live in a new place, meet new people, learn new perspectives and discover new ways of seeing things. For the first time I will be studying and learning about exactly the things that I've always really cared about.</p> <h3>Joel Biju Thomas</h3> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/2019-08-29-engineering-joel-resized.jpg" alt></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Joel Biju Thomas is in engineering science.<br> His hometowns are Kerala, India and Kampala, Uganda.</p> <p><strong>Why 茄子直播 Engineering?</strong> I chose 茄子直播 Engineering for the new machine intelligence major in engineering science.</p> <p><strong>First-year plans</strong>: I want to learn more about programming. Also, I plan to explore and participate in different clubs 鈥 maybe photography and different athletic clubs. I鈥檓 looking forward to Frosh Week, meeting new friends and moving into residence.</p> <p><strong>Future goals: </strong>I want to pursue graduate studies in machine learning.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 29 Aug 2019 18:42:40 +0000 noreen.rasbach 157947 at #UofTBackToSchool: 12 things every new student should know /news/uoftbacktoschool-12-things-every-new-student-should-know <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTBackToSchool: 12 things every new student should know </span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT4222_20120720_TourGuides_5887-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=xFld-IAV 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT4222_20120720_TourGuides_5887-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=q7lLEvVM 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT4222_20120720_TourGuides_5887-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=YT8_HhMG 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT4222_20120720_TourGuides_5887-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=xFld-IAV" alt="students with a tour guide at university college"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-08-23T00:00:00-04:00" title="Friday, August 23, 2019 - 00:00" class="datetime">Fri, 08/23/2019 - 00:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(photo by Caz Zyvatkauskas)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/isabel-armiento" hreflang="en">Isabel Armiento</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/anti-racism-cultural-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Anti-Racism &amp; Cultural Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-violence-prevention-support-centre" hreflang="en">Sexual Violence Prevention &amp; Support Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health-wellness-centre" hreflang="en">Health &amp; Wellness Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/accessibility" hreflang="en">Accessibility</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/centre-international-experience" hreflang="en">Centre for International Experience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/equity" hreflang="en">Equity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/first-nations-house" hreflang="en">First Nations House</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/indigenous" hreflang="en">Indigenous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lgbtq" hreflang="en">LGBTQ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mental-health" hreflang="en">Mental Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/multi-faith-centre" hreflang="en">Multi-Faith Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/student-life" hreflang="en">Student Life</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>It鈥檚 easy to get caught up in the fast pace of&nbsp;life at the University of Toronto, especially as a new student. Be sure to brush up on these 12 essential campus supports and services ranging from health care to gender diversity before beginning the school year.</p> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT12154_20160803_EmergencyPhone_5014-crop_0.jpg" alt></h3> <h3>Safety</h3> <p>茄子直播 provides <a href="http://safety.utoronto.ca/">many safety resources</a>, including instructions to register for 茄子直播鈥檚 <a href="/alerts">24-hour emergency alert system</a>. 茄子直播 also provides <a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hs/housing-emergencies">emergency housing services</a>, as well as student food banks on the <a href="https://www.utsu.ca/services/food-bank/">St. George campus in downtown Toronto</a>, <a href="http://utmorientation.ca/utmfoodcentre.co/">茄子直播 Mississauga</a> and <a href="http://www.scsu.ca/food-centre/">茄子直播 Scarborough</a>.</p> <p>You can also visit the <a href="https://www.svpscentre.utoronto.ca/">Sexual Violence Prevention &amp; Support Centre</a> for information, resources and workshops. If you are a victim of sexual violence or assault, you are encouraged to <a href="https://www.svpscentre.utoronto.ca/contact/">contact or visit the centre</a>.</p> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT12230_20160913_Health%26WellnessOffice_5-crop.jpg" alt></h3> <h3>Health and wellness</h3> <p>It鈥檚 critical to practise self-care throughout the school year. There are numerous on-campus options for health care. Check out the university鈥檚 health and wellness centres for prescriptions, medical care and check-ups.</p> <p><a href="http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc">Health &amp; Wellness Centre (St. George campus)</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/health/">Health &amp; Counselling Centre (茄子直播 Mississauga)</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/hwc/">Health &amp; Wellness Centre (茄子直播 Scarborough)</a></p> <p>These centres are also excellent resources for mental health support. All three campuses offer services, including individual psychotherapy, group therapy and same-day counselling. If you need immediate help, you can call the <a href="https://good2talk.ca/">Good 2 Talk Student Helpline</a>, the <a href="http://gersteincentre.org/our-crisis-services/telephone-crisis-intervention/">Gerstein Centre Crisis Line</a> or one of many <a href="http://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/">suicide prevention helplines, chats and texting support services</a>.</p> <p>Other mental health resources include a <a href="https://www.skylarkyouth.org/what-we-do/programs-counselling-services/walk-in-clinics/">walk-in mental health clinic</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;offers drop-in counselling to students and is located only a 10-minute walk from the St. George campus.</p> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT12306_20161024_Canada150Tulips_008-crop.jpg" alt></h3> <h3>Accessibility</h3> <p>茄子直播 is proud to provide a host of student accessibility services in and out of the classroom. Learn more about the diverse array of accessibility services offered by 茄子直播.</p> <p><a href="http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/as">Accessibility Services (St. George campus)</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/accessibility/">Accessibility Services (茄子直播 Mississauga)</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~ability/">Access<em>Ability</em> Services (茄子直播 Scarborough)</a></p> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT18745_0607PridePub001-crop.jpg" alt></h3> <h3>Gender and sexual diversity</h3> <p>For LGBTQ resources, workshops and events, visit the tri-campus <a href="https://sgdo.utoronto.ca/">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a>鈥檚 website. To get involved in the community, check out 茄子直播 initiatives such as <a href="https://positivespace.utoronto.ca/">Positive Space</a> and <a href="https://outatutm.com/">OUT@UTM</a> or explore more specialized programming such as <a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/mf/queerying-religion">Que(e)rying Religion</a>.</p> <p>The <a href="https://womenscentre.sa.utoronto.ca/">Centre for Women and Trans People</a> is an excellent resource for intersectional feminist programming, as well as for providing a safe and harassment-free space for women and trans individuals. Trans students can find essential resources and information, such as how to change your name on official 茄子直播 documentation or the locations of all-gender washrooms on campus, <a href="https://sgdo.utoronto.ca/resources/resources-for-trans-people-u-of-t/">here</a>.</p> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT12104_20130322_StudentsatCtrforIndigenoustudies_4-crop.jpg" alt></h3> <h3>Indigenous students</h3> <p>Students hoping to explore and connect with their Indigenous identity can visit <a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/fnh/about-us">First Nations House</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://indigenous.utoronto.ca/">new Indigenous 茄子直播 website</a>&nbsp;for supports, events and resources. All members of the 茄子直播 community are welcome.</p> <p>Check out the 茄子直播 Mississauga <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/indigenous-centre/">Indigenous Centre</a> or the 茄子直播 Scarborough <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/studentlife/indigenous-outreach-program">Indigenous Outreach Program</a> for unique programming such as weekly smudge ceremonies, Indigenous film nights and moderated nature walks.</p> <p>All three campuses offer Indigenous learning opportunities and celebrations accompanied by the knowledge and support of an on-campus Indigenous Elder-in-Residence.</p> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT14346_20080516_StudentPhotos2009_1-crop.jpg" alt></h3> <h3>Equity services</h3> <p>As the largest university in the world鈥檚 most multicultural city, 茄子直播 has taken many strides toward maintaining a diverse, equitable and representative campus, such as its initiative to <a href="http://www.research.utoronto.ca/edri/">increase equity and diversity</a> in research and innovation. For more information about supports and resources, visit 茄子直播鈥檚 <a href="http://antiracism.utoronto.ca/">Anti-Racism &amp; Cultural Diversity Office</a> or one of its tri-campus <a href="http://equity.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/">Equity Offices</a>.</p> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT441_20070131_MultiFaithCentre_004.jpg" alt></h3> <h3>Multi-faith services &nbsp;</h3> <p>The university offers several <a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/mf/other-spaces">on-campus multi-faith locations</a>, as well as on-campus <a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/mf/chaplains">chaplains</a> and resources for <a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/mf/accommodation">religious accommodations</a>.</p> <p>For multi-faith prayer and meditation space, faith-based counselling, research opportunities, information on religious retreats and more, visit one of the tri-campus Multi-Faith Centres.</p> <p><a href="http://studentlife.utoronto.ca/mf">Multi-Faith Centre (St. George campus)</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/utm-engage/student-groups/multi-faith/spaces">Multi-Faith Spaces (茄子直播 Mississauga)</a></p> <p><a href="https://utsc.utoronto.ca/studentlife/multi-faith-engagement">Multi-Faith Engagement (茄子直播 Scarborough)</a></p> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT5863_20140905_IntlStudentsBBQ_001-crop.jpg" alt></h3> <h3>International students</h3> <p>Whether you came from abroad to study at 茄子直播 or are a domestic student hoping for an international study opportunity, supports and services regarding your international experience are readily available at all three campuses.</p> <p><a href="http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/cie">Centre for International Experience (St. George campus)</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/international/">International Education Centre (茄子直播 Mississauga)</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/utscinternational/">International Student Centre (茄子直播 Scarborough)</a></p> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/GettyImages-963418184-crop.jpg" alt></h3> <h3>Financial services</h3> <p>Between scholarships, bursaries and grants, 茄子直播 offers a wide range of financial services and supports to students. Learn more about getting <a href="https://future.utoronto.ca/finances/financial-aid/">financial aid</a> or securing a <a href="https://future.utoronto.ca/finances/scholarships/">scholarship</a>, many of which are offered through your <a href="https://future.utoronto.ca/finances/scholarships/division-faculty-college-scholarships/">college or faculty</a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT17910_UofT_interior_web-138-crop.jpg" alt></h3> <h3>Academic success</h3> <p>Slogging through piles of readings or writing a 3,000-word paper may seem like lonely work, but you don鈥檛 have to do it alone. Head over to the Sid Smith Commons to join a <a href="https://sidneysmithcommons.artsci.utoronto.ca/recognized-study-groups/">Recognized Study Group</a> at the St. George campus or a Facilitated Study Group at 茄子直播 <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/asc/facilitated-study-groups-fsgs">Mississauga</a> or <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/ctl/facilitated-study-groups-fsg">Scarborough</a> and ace your next test with the help of your peers.</p> <p>Alternatively, tackle that seemingly impossible paper at one of 茄子直播鈥檚 14&nbsp;<a href="https://writing.utoronto.ca/writing-centres/">writing centres</a> located across all three campuses. For more resources and tools for refining your study skills, improving time management and more, visit one of the tri-campus centres for academic support.</p> <p><a href="http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/asc">Academic Success Centre (St. George campus)</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/asc/">Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (茄子直播 Mississauga)</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/">Academic Advising &amp; Career Centre (茄子直播 Scarborough)</a></p> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/Family%20study%20space%20%282%20of%204%29-crop.jpg" alt></h3> <h3>Family services</h3> <p>茄子直播 is devoted to meeting the needs of its diverse network of students and families through its <a href="http://familycare.utoronto.ca/">Family Care Office</a>, which offers resources such as <a href="http://familycare.utoronto.ca/resources/counselling/">family care counselling</a> and suggests <a href="http://familycare.utoronto.ca/childcare/">child care</a>&nbsp;options near campus. 茄子直播 provides further on-campus resources for students with children, such as Robarts Library鈥檚 <a href="/bulletin/robarts-library-opens-family-study-space-parents-and-kids">family study space</a>. Resources are also available for <a href="https://blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca/intersections/2019/05/28/resources-for-lgbtq-parenting/">LGBTQ&nbsp;parents</a>.</p> <h3>Stay in the know</h3> <p>The easiest way to stay connected with 茄子直播 news, events and up-to-date information is by following 茄子直播 on social media.</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/uoft">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/uoft/">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/universitytoronto">Facebook</a> (Tri-campus)</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/Utm">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/uoftmississauga/">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UTMississauga/">Facebook</a> (茄子直播 Mississauga)</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/utsc">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/utsc/">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UofTScarborough/">Facebook</a> (茄子直播 Scarborough)&nbsp;</p> <p>If social media鈥檚 not your thing, find one of the many <a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/askme/on-campus">ASKme booths</a> around campus or consult anyone wearing an orange 鈥淎SKme鈥 shirt. If you want a question answered without leaving the house, ask any 茄子直播-related question <a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/askme">online</a> or explore other resources such as the 茄子直播 <a href="http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hello/people">Student Life Offices</a>, 茄子直播 Mississauga鈥檚 <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/utm-engage/">Centre for Student Engagement</a> or 茄子直播 Scarborough鈥檚 <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/studentlife/">Department of Student Life</a>.</p> <p>You can also stay in the know by picking up a copy of a campus newspaper such as <a href="https://thevarsity.ca/"><em>The Varsity</em></a>, <a href="https://themedium.ca/"><em>The Medium</em></a> or your college or faculty鈥檚 newspaper.</p> <p>Also, be sure to check out <a href="/news"><em>茄子直播 News</em></a> for the latest news about the university.</p> <h3><a href="/back-to-school">Read more about Back to School at 茄子直播</a></h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 23 Aug 2019 04:00:00 +0000 noreen.rasbach 157704 at 茄子直播 alumna, influencer is creator of Chinese website that looks at having fun in Toronto and beyond /news/u-t-alumna-influencer-creator-chinese-website-looks-having-fun-toronto-and-beyond <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">茄子直播 alumna, influencer is creator of Chinese website that looks at having fun in Toronto and beyond</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2019-05-10-UTM_JoannaLuoMacaron-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=UpQ0JyKD 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2019-05-10-UTM_JoannaLuoMacaron-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=1yTqJa0- 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2019-05-10-UTM_JoannaLuoMacaron-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=SnCucmyR 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2019-05-10-UTM_JoannaLuoMacaron-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=UpQ0JyKD" alt="Photo of Joanna Luo"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-05-10T12:39:23-04:00" title="Friday, May 10, 2019 - 12:39" class="datetime">Fri, 05/10/2019 - 12:39</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">鈥淧eople tell me how lucky I am that my hobby is also my job,鈥 says Joanna Luo, the creator of Toronto Diary</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/elaine-smith" hreflang="en">Elaine Smith</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">茄子直播</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cities" hreflang="en">Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>University students know that if they want to taste the best barbecued pork buns in the Greater Toronto Area,&nbsp;<strong>Joanna Luo</strong>鈥檚 WeChat blog and Instagram page are the places to turn for advice 鈥 if you can read Mandarin.</p> <p>Luo, 29, a University of Toronto Mississauga alumna, is the creator of <a href="http://www.torontodiary.ca"><em>Toronto Diary</em></a><em>&nbsp;</em>on WeChat, a lifestyle blog that has a related Instagram page and Twitter feed, all targeted toward international students from China and Chinese-Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24. In total, the sites have more than 500,000 followers and keeping them current has become Luo鈥檚 full-time job.</p> <p>鈥淚 really love it,鈥 says Luo. 鈥淚 love food and I love new things.鈥</p> <p>Luo first started the blog on WeChat, a Chinese website similar to Facebook, just for fun.</p> <p>鈥淚 came to Canada from China for Grade 12 to improve my English before attending university,鈥 Luo says. 鈥淭he first year, I found it a bit boring, so I started to tour Toronto and find places to eat and set up a blog to tell my friends where they could go to eat and play.鈥</p> <p>Soon, her following extended far beyond her friends, and two years ago, she and two partners turned the enterprise into a business, Toronto Chihewanle Ltd. While the others are silent partners, Luo is the editor-in-chief for the sites, overseeing a part-time staff of 12 freelancers who help her meet the ongoing need for relevant, interesting content.</p> <h3><a href="https://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/2019/03/20/the-culinary-gems-of-wechat.html">Read about Luo in <em>the Toronto Star</em></a></h3> <p>The WeChat blog offers readers six or seven new stories each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, complete with photos. The Friday edition of the blog always suggests an idea for a weekend activity, such as visiting the cherry blossoms in High Park, along with new foods and restaurants to try. Sometimes, there is a walking tour of restaurants in a specific area, complete with a map, or there may be results from a team taste-testing session for potato chip brands or ice cream. Asian restaurants or dishes are often a focal point, but <em>Toronto Diary</em> encourages its readership to branch out and try other treats that Toronto has to offer.</p> <p>鈥淎t first, I just recorded what I liked,鈥 Luo says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think about becoming a food blogger for a living.鈥</p> <p>These days, however, she has so much on her plate, literally and figuratively, that she might visit two or three restaurants in one evening and taste only a few bites of each dish she orders.</p> <p>鈥淭here are a lot of take-out bags with leftovers,鈥 she says with a smile. Not a bad outcome, since Luo doesn鈥檛 have much time to cook.</p> <p>Lifestyle blogging is a far cry from the history and economics she studied at 茄子直播 Mississauga, but Luo carries some of their lessons with her as she works.</p> <p>鈥淚 learned about the economy and the need to analyze data, which I use in determining why a certain post works and another doesn鈥檛,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 also learned how to manage my time during university.鈥</p> <p>Luo says she sees the blog as a way to create a bridge between cultures, and she has begun encouraging her readers to explore the joys of places outside Canada, too. During the past year, she has travelled to New York City for Fashion Week, to Las Vegas to interview chefs and to Venice for its well-regarded film festival, sharing her food and fun finds with <em>Toronto Diary </em>followers. Soon, she鈥檒l be winging her way to South Korea for a visit sponsored by Korean Tourism.</p> <p>鈥淧eople tell me how lucky I am that my hobby is also my job,鈥 Luo says.</p> <p align="center">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 10 May 2019 16:39:23 +0000 noreen.rasbach 156646 at 'I wanted to be a part of the mosaic of diversity': Students from Mexico on why they chose 茄子直播 /news/i-wanted-be-part-mosaic-diversity-students-mexico-why-they-chose-u-t <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'I wanted to be a part of the mosaic of diversity': Students from Mexico on why they chose 茄子直播</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0326_EriKimuraMeguro002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ATygrc-G 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/0326_EriKimuraMeguro002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=jH7ljFHz 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/0326_EriKimuraMeguro002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=MKw-laiQ 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0326_EriKimuraMeguro002-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ATygrc-G" alt="photo of Eri Kimura Meguro"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-04-10T10:41:08-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 10:41" class="datetime">Wed, 04/10/2019 - 10:41</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Eri Kimura, from Mexico City, says studying at 茄子直播 changed the way she thinks about history, society and other topics, while the university's diverse campus gave her new insights on tolerance (all photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/cansu-aydemir" hreflang="en">Cansu Aydemir</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/anthropology" hreflang="en">Anthropology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/humanities" hreflang="en">Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international" hreflang="en">International</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international-students" hreflang="en">International Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lester-b-pearson-international-scholarship" hreflang="en">Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/new-college" hreflang="en">New College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rotman-commerce" hreflang="en">Rotman Commerce</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-college" hreflang="en">University College</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When University of Toronto President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong> led a delegation to Mexico City last year, he noted that international students at 茄子直播 encounter 鈥渘ew ideas, perspectives and approaches that in turn inspire mutual understanding and stimulate knowledge.鈥</p> <p>That鈥檚 a perspective echoed by many of the Mexican students interviewed by <em>茄子直播 News</em> reporter <strong>Cansu Aydemir</strong>, an international student herself.</p> <p>鈥溓炎又辈 makes you question a lot,鈥 says fourth-year student <strong>Eri Kimura</strong>, who left Mexico City to study at 茄子直播. 鈥淲hy did I take this for granted? Why did I think history was like this? Why did I think society was supposed to be like this?鈥</p> <p>茄子直播 has important ties with Mexico. They include&nbsp;partnerships with UNAM (Universidad Nacional Aut贸noma de M茅xico),&nbsp;Tec de Monterrey (Instituto Tecnol贸gico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey),&nbsp;FUNED (Fundaci贸n Mexicana para la Educaci贸n, la Tecnolog铆a y la Ciencia) and <a href="/news/agreement-will-bring-more-phd-students-u-t-mexico">CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnolog铆a)</a> 鈥 not to mention the hundreds of research publications authored by 茄子直播 scholars with Mexican colleagues.</p> <p>But the experiences of Mexican students across the university鈥檚 three campuses offer a more intimate look at the relationship between the university and the&nbsp;country of more than 130 million.</p> <p>Here are a few of their stories:</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10626 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_AdrianaPatino001.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Mexico City鈥檚 <strong>Adriana Diaz Lozano Patino</strong> got to know 茄子直播 when her brother was accepted into the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering seven years ago.</p> <p>Patino鈥檚 brother was the first member of her family to study abroad. She says he cleared the path her.</p> <p>鈥淢y brother loved it here, he stayed after his undergraduate studies and he did his master鈥檚 here,鈥 she says. 鈥淣ow he works in Toronto.</p> <p>鈥淗e passed on that love to me I guess.鈥</p> <p>Patino says 茄子直播鈥檚 global reputation, its welcoming approach towards international students and its research opportunities were also factors that brought her to 茄子直播.</p> <p>Now in her first year studying engineering science, Patino says she is planning to major in biomedical engineering.</p> <p>鈥淚 have been dreaming for a long time to become a researcher in the field,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 picture myself in a lab, cloning molecules and whatnot.鈥</p> <p>A top student in high school, Patino won a Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship to attend 茄子直播. She says she was aware she was entering a competitive environment. What she didn鈥檛 expect was how much she would struggle with the language.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚 remember coming to physics lab and people started talking about these concepts and I was like, 鈥楨xcuse me?鈥欌 Patino says. 鈥淭hen I realized that I actually know the concepts, but in different words; I got used to the fact and built my own strategy within a couple of months.鈥</p> <p>Patino says she enjoys being a part of the engineering community.</p> <p>鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have this feeling of unhealthy competition within the engineering community. &nbsp;If you have a problem, you know people will be there for you.鈥</p> <p>For students who are considering whether to study abroad, Patino has some advice.</p> <p>鈥淔or Latin American families, the idea of leaving the family at such a young age is frightening,鈥 she says. 鈥淏ut they should come. They shouldn鈥檛 be scared 鈥 they are going to find amazing people, amazing professors.</p> <p>鈥淭here is something here that is going to be for you whether you like dancing, whether you like writing or designing a Formula 1 car.鈥</p> <p>It鈥檚 also important for students to remember that it is possible to 鈥渉elp your country even though you don鈥檛 live there,鈥 she says.</p> <p>鈥淲e can all help to rebuild what is being broken every day by pursuing your passion and you coming here, experiencing this world.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10627 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_MarcosMadrigalalbores001.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Home for <strong>Marcos David Madrigal Albores </strong>is the southern state of&nbsp;Chiapas鈥檚 capital city, Tuxtla Guti茅rrez. But Albores always wanted to see Toronto, the setting for Canadian author Bryan Lee O鈥橫alley鈥檚 <em>Scott Pilgrim versus the World</em>.</p> <p>Albores loved the popular graphic novel so much that, when he started high school four years ago, he and his family planned a vacation to Canada鈥檚 largest city.</p> <p>Albores took a tour of the downtown Toronto campus and says he was impressed with the facilities and the programs offered.</p> <p>鈥淲e were just joking that it would be great if I studied here at 茄子直播,鈥 he says.</p> <p>Four years later his wish came true: Albores is now a first-year engineering science student, hoping to specialize in machine intelligence.</p> <p>Getting here wasn鈥檛 easy.</p> <p>鈥淢y state is not the richest in Mexico. It would be very hard to pay the tuition unless I got a scholarship,鈥 he says.</p> <p>During the final days of the application cycle, he won the Engineering International Scholar Award, which partially covered his tuition. With the financial help and support of his family, he says, he had the chance to follow his dream.</p> <p>Albores defines himself as a 鈥済lobal person鈥 and says that it鈥檚 the diversity that he likes most about Canada and Toronto. He also enjoys the scenery of the city.</p> <p>鈥淭all buildings, blue sky, snow in the streets, the tiny communities like Greektown, Little Italy. I feel like they are all part of the city鈥檚 character and I love it.鈥</p> <p>Albores says he hopes that one day his brother, 10, will also study at 茄子直播.</p> <p>鈥溓炎又辈 is the number one school in Canada, among the top 20 in the world,鈥 he says. 鈥淭he engineering program鈥檚 level of detail and depth is much more than you could get in Mexico or other parts of the world.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10628 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_EriKimuraMeguro001.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>When <strong>Eri Kimura</strong>鈥檚 parents told her she could leave Mexico City to study abroad, she immediately thought of Toronto.</p> <p>Her sister had studied in the United States, but Kimura says Canada鈥檚 approach to multiculturalism was more appealing.</p> <p>鈥淚n sociology it is called the mosaic versus the melting pot,鈥 Kimura says. 鈥淢y friends who have gone to the U.S. had to fit into the society 鈥 they molded into the society 鈥 but I wanted to be a part of the mosaic of diversity where I could still be me, still have my culture and also be able to explore others.鈥</p> <p>She chose New College for a similar reason: diversity.</p> <p>鈥淣ew College seemed like it was more multicultural: all their programs and initiatives were [about] equity and they wanted students to feel like they are in a community,鈥 she says.</p> <p>鈥淭hat really resonated with what I wanted.鈥</p> <p>After her first year at Rotman Commerce, Kimura says she realized she wanted to widen her studies.</p> <p>Now in her fourth&nbsp;year of specializing in management at Rotman Commerce,&nbsp;she is also doing a major&nbsp;in international relations and&nbsp;a minor in economics.</p> <p>鈥淚 see myself in international institutions and diplomacy,鈥 she says.</p> <p>After the devastating earthquakes in Mexico in 2017, Kimura initiated a campaign to help the victims.</p> <p>鈥淚 basically bought two jars, went out and started collecting money,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hen I received very positive reactions and in the end we were 15 or 16 students trying to get help for earthquake victims.鈥</p> <p>Kimura believes that the way she thinks has changed dramatically at 茄子直播.</p> <p>鈥淚 am way more tolerant and&nbsp;way more conscious about how I treat others, or how I interact with others,鈥 she says. 鈥溓炎又辈 makes you question a lot. Why did I take this for granted?&nbsp;Why did I think history was like this?&nbsp;Why did I think society was supposed be like this? And it gives you all the tools to explore further.鈥</p> <p>For future students, Kimura recommends attending Step Up, the orientation program for international students.</p> <p>鈥淔or me it was a game-changer,鈥 she says.&nbsp;鈥淚 met my friend group 鈥 we are from 10 different nationalities 鈥 and we are just very similar in so many different ways.鈥</p> <p>Kimura is planning to spend her summer after graduation in Toronto working with a professor on a G20 research project.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10631 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_LuisCarlosSoldevilla002.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Mexico City鈥檚 <strong>Luis Carlos Soldevilla Estrada</strong> knew he wanted to study abroad. One option was to follow his brother to the United States 鈥 but he didn鈥檛 like the political situation there. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淢y whole family are immigrants,鈥 he says.&nbsp;鈥淢y father is from Peru and my mother is from Bolivia, and I don鈥檛 like how the United States is going right now with Trump.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Now in his first year studying computer science and mathematics at 茄子直播 Mississauga, Estrada says he chose 茄子直播 because of the 鈥渙pportunities and the variety of programs.鈥</p> <p>Initially, Estrada wanted to major in economics. However, when he started doing research projects in mathematics in high school he changed his mind.&nbsp;He started programming and he found it 鈥渧ery useful and interesting鈥.</p> <p>Estrada&nbsp;chose to study in Mississauga because, after living in Mexico City, he wanted a different lifestyle .</p> <p>鈥淢ississauga is a little bit calmer,鈥 Estrada says. 鈥淵ou have your space, there are fewer people, nature is beautiful 鈥&nbsp; I wanted to try&nbsp;a new thing and that is very new for me.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Estrada says the cozier atmosphere of Mississauga meant the social life on campus exceeded his expectations.</p> <p>鈥淚t is easier to find friends here. If I see my friend in a classroom on Monday, I could see him the next day in the cafeteria,鈥 he says.</p> <p>Estrada says he likes how 鈥渆verything is well organized鈥 in Canada and he appreciates the opportunities and aids the school provides for students.</p> <p>鈥淚f I have some doubts about a course, I could approach academic advisors or faculty. The building is two minutes away from my residence 鈥 they are very approachable and it鈥檚 easy to communicate.鈥</p> <p>In his mathematics club, Estrada says&nbsp;they work on challenging math problems&nbsp;and talk about&nbsp;recent research projects.</p> <p>He also plays intramural soccer and is involved with the machine learning reading club.</p> <p>&nbsp;鈥淓very week one person presents either an interesting subject in machine learning or anything they implemented,鈥 he says.</p> <p>鈥淚f you choose 茄子直播 鈥 any campus, doesn鈥檛 matter,&nbsp;St. George, Mississauga or Scarborough 鈥 you are going to get a lot of great experiences and you will meet with many people from different countries.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10632 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_VinicioCorral001.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Born in Mexico City,&nbsp;<strong>Vinicio&nbsp;Corral&nbsp;Gutierrez</strong>&nbsp;attended high school in San Diego 鈥 so when it came time for university, his first thought was to try his luck with U.S. colleges.</p> <p>Then a friend suggested Toronto.</p> <p>鈥淚t was before the 2016 election and my friend said Donald Trump is going to win, we should apply to Canada,鈥 Gutierrez says. 鈥淚 didn't know much about Toronto, but I said, 鈥楽ure,鈥 because I knew that it would be a clean slate.鈥</p> <p>After spending time in Toronto, he says he really likes the multicultural structure of the city.</p> <p>鈥淭here are so many people from everywhere,鈥 he says. 鈥淲hen you go outside, you hear a lot of different languages&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;I hear a lot of Spanish which is nice.鈥</p> <p>Now, Gutierrez is in his second year, studying anthropology in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, at University College.</p> <p>He says he chose his college randomly, but is happy with how things worked out.</p> <p>鈥淯niversity College is really nice,鈥 he says.&nbsp;鈥淚 really like the people I have met there, and it is one of the best dining halls in campus.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Finding the right academic focus was more challenging than choosing a college, Gutierrez adds. He began by majoring in physics and mathematics in his first year, but soon realized he needed to make a change.</p> <p>鈥淚 realized that I am very bad at math; I was good at high school math, but not at university math,鈥 he says.</p> <p>He switched to anthropology when he realized his interest lies in human interactions. He hopes to build a career in public relations. &nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚 thought that anthropology would be good because it is the study of people, so I got to study all these different cultures and all these different backgrounds which I can apply to my work later on.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅 <img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10633 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/0326_ArturoRezaUgalde001.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="680" loading="lazy"></p> <p>A scholarship from the CONACyT&nbsp;program, supported by the Secretary of Energy in Mexico, brought <strong>Arturo Reza Ugalde</strong> to 茄子直播 for his PhD in mechanical engineering.</p> <p>Ugalde, whose research is in sustainable energy, completed his undergraduate and master鈥檚 degrees in Mexico City. At 茄子直播, he works on composite materials for electrochemical applications and the reduction of carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淓nvironmental impacts of sustainable energy are something we see everywhere in the whole world,鈥 he says.</p> <p>Ugalde adds he could have chosen to study anywhere in the world with the scholarship,&nbsp;but selected Canada and 茄子直播 for very important reasons.</p> <p>鈥淢exico is trying to do something about clean energies because Mexico City is one of the most contaminated cities in the whole world 鈥 and Canada is really good at [clean energy research],鈥 Ugalde says. 鈥淚 love everything related to clean energies. I am passionate&nbsp;about it.鈥</p> <p>He adds that 茄子直播's global rankings helped seal the deal.</p> <p>Ugalde visited Toronto before making a decision and liked the people and the city.&nbsp;While he knew Toronto was diverse, the level of multiculturalism in Toronto still surprised him once he got here.</p> <p>鈥淔or some reason, I imagined that I was going to be surrounded by Canadian people 鈥 but then when&nbsp;I came here, I realized that Canadian people are people from all over the world,鈥 he says. 鈥淵ou can go to a restaurant and, all of a sudden, you start hearing six, seven languages at the same time.鈥</p> <p>Ugalde says 茄子直播 provides a variety of options and opportunities to graduate students.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淲e have access to a lot of resources, labs have a lot of good equipment and we also have access to any other department 鈥 so that makes easier to work in any type of research,鈥 he says.</p> <p>For any students of any age planning to attend 茄子直播, Ugalde has some advice.</p> <p>鈥淲e Mexicans are really tied to our roots, families and home and that is what makes it harder for us to emmigrate to another country, but when you are here you feel very supported by others 鈥 your colleagues and professors 鈥 and it makes things easier,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 would love others&nbsp;to experience what it is [like] to be in a world-class university with pretty much unlimited access to resources and equipment.</p> <p>鈥淗ere, for example, students start doing research and internships during undergrad 鈥 and I would like Mexican students to experience working in the industry, and really experience research from a very early stage.鈥</p> <p>Ugalde says he is considering a post-doctoral position at 茄子直播 in the coming year.</p> <p>鈥淚 am pretty sure whatever I do here 鈥 all the research 鈥 it will be really, really beneficial for Mexico when I go back.鈥</p> <p><em>International student Cansu Aydemir is an intern at 茄子直播 News. Originally from Turkey, she has lived in Toronto since 2012 and is now in her fourth year of studies at 茄子直播 where she is specializing in history and minoring in diaspora and transnational studies</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 10 Apr 2019 14:41:08 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 156162 at