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    April 1, 2026


    Meet Vina: My Most Memorable Experiences as a UCalgary Student 


    Vina, Biomedical Sciences Student


    My name is Vina, and I'm a first-year Biomedical Sciences student at the University of Calgary. I grew up in a small town called St. Albert, where everyone kind of knows everyone and people naturally fall into their own groups. I quite loved where I grew up. There’s something really special about a place that feels familiar, even when you’re still trying to figure yourself out. 

    When it came time to choose a university, I knew I wanted a fresh start. I wanted to go somewhere new, meet new people, and step out of the version of myself I had been before—but I also wanted to stay close enough to home that I could go back whenever I needed to. UCalgary felt like the perfect middle ground.



    Calgary had already been a big part of my life growing up. I used to come here almost every weekend for badminton tournaments, so in a way, it already felt like a second home. Choosing UCalgary didn’t feel like starting over completely—it felt like continuing a story I had already started, just in a new chapter.
     

     

    I also joined the Chinese Students’ Society (CSS), the Japanese Culture Club (JCC), and WISE. Each of these gave me something different—new experiences, new friendships, and chances to step out of my comfort zone. Some of the people I’ve met through these clubs have already become such an important part of my university experience.

    Even though I’ve already made so many memories, I know I’m still just at the very beginning. I’m only in my first year, and there’s still so much ahead of me—more experiences, more challenges, more people to meet, and more growth that I can’t even fully imagine yet. And honestly, that’s the most exciting part. I’m really looking forward to everything that’s still waiting for me.

    If I had to give one piece of advice to future UCalgary students, it would be this: just try things—even if you’re nervous. Go to that club meeting, talk to new people, put yourself out there a little. It might feel a bit daunting at first, but that’s usually where the best things start. At the end of the day, you’re not losing anything—you’re gaining experiences, confidence, and maybe even friendships that you’ll carry with you for a long time.

    I chose Biomedical Sciences because I’ve always been interested in the medical field, especially research and how science can actually make a difference in people’s lives. One thing I didn’t expect, though, was how close the program would feel. The biomed community is pretty tight, and since we all take so many of the same classes, you start to see the same people every day. It’s actually really comforting—you realize you’re not going through everything alone. It kind of feels like we’re all living the same bustling first-year life, just in slightly different ways.

    What’s meant the most to me so far is how included I feel here. There’s so much diversity and openness, I never feel out of place. I’ve been able to meet people from so many different backgrounds, and that’s honestly changed how I see things in the best way.

    Outside of classes, joining clubs has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I joined the badminton club, which felt like coming back to something that’s always been a huge part of my life. I’ve met so many amazing people through it, and some of my favorite moments so far have just been playing matches, joking around, and sharing that same passion with others.