Why Werklund School of Education?

Like many students, my career goals changed as I discovered new experiences. To be honest, I didn’t always want to be a teacher. From the age of 5, I had my heart set on being a doctor. I was definitely that kid who watched all of the medical TV shows (yes, I've seen every episode of Grey's Anatomy), and asked Santa every year for a stethoscope. Throughout junior high this passion with medicine continued, and by the time I was 13 I was already scoping out medical schools that I wanted to apply to. Then came high school, and this is when everything changed. In grade 11 I ended up having a spare period, leading me to sign up for a teaching assistant position through the school’s work-experience program. My placement was in a 4th grade elementary school across the field. As you can guess, this experience ended up radically changing my life. After this, choosing the Werklund School of Education at UCalgary was a no-brainer for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful that I did.

Uni life Outside of Class!

For me, what made UCalgary distinct from other universities was the number of opportunities it offered for students to get involved on campus. Outside of my courses, I have had the privilege to participate in several extra-curricular activities. Perhaps the opportunity that has had the most profound impact on my outlook of academia was working as a research assistant for The Body Image Lab. Alongside my lab team, I spent two semesters creating a series of lesson plans and activities for Alberta 7-9 teachers with the aim of educating youth on the topics of exercise and nutrition in a weight-neutral and body positive way. Not only did this introduce me to the world of educational research, but it truly opened up my eyes to the many different ways of approaching complex issues in educational spaces.
 

If I could give one piece of advice to incoming students, it would be to get out of your comfort zone and try something that fascinates or intimidates you in your undergrad. Afterall, great things never come from comfort zones. Take the leap, make the bold move, and most importantly don't be afraid to Start Something!

What Makes Werklund Unique?

What stood out to me the most about my classes with the Werklund School of Education is the small class sizes and the strong emphasis on collaborative learning. Rather than a professor lecturing to students all lecture, every class is centered around the idea of dialogical learning and harnessing the knowledge and lived experiences of every individual in the classroom. I was constantly encouraged by my mentors to think critically and utilize my fellow classmates as valuable resources for deeper learning. As a whole, Werklund is an incredibly inclusive and close-knit community of aspiring educators who are all extremely passionate about creating the best educational system possible for our present and future generations.