Discover Student Stories
Hear directly from UCalgary students as they share their experiences, perspectives, and the moments that have shaped their university journeys.
Meet Emily: Education
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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...
Meet Bhavya: Kinesiology
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I chose Kinesiology because I’ve always been interested in health, movement, and the human body. I liked the idea of learning about the “why” behind the way we function in our everyday lives. Kinesiology felt like a program where I could explore health, creativity, and a bunch of different perspectives altogether. I’m still figuring out exactly where I want to go with it, but that’s kind of the point of first year...
Meet Evelyn: Nursing
In my first year, I served as a co-chair for my year with the Undergraduate Nursing Society (UNS) and volunteered for the Open House and You at UCalgary! Outside of campus life, I also love to volunteer at the Foothills Medical Centre with the H.E.L.P. Program and as an athletic trainer for my former high school rugby team.
Meet Ophelia: Kinesiology
When I first came to UCalgary, I knew I wanted to work hard and push myself to grow, but I wasn’t yet sure how to make the most of my university experience. The workshops offered through the Student Success Centre (SSC) and the Centre for Career and Personal Development (CCPD), helped me understand how I study...
Meet Ishika: Computer Science
Now in my 4th year of Computer Science, I can truly say that UCalgary has shaped me in countless ways. The curriculum not only builds the technical foundation needed to thrive in the tech world but also encourages collaboration across disciplines. Working on assignments with students from diverse fields has pushed my boundaries, honed my skills, and taught me how technology integrates with other areas of study...
Meet Kaylee: Human Resources
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As a student at the Haskayne School of Business, one of the first things you’ll hear about at orientation is how important it is to get involved and network. That can feel a little overwhelming at first, especially when you’re brand new to university life. But case competitions are a great place to start...
Meet Emjay: Nursing
From a young age, I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. After researching the field and talking to registered nurses, I realized just how fulfilling nursing can be. It’s all about caring for patients and their families, which really resonated with me. Since I’m naturally social, working in a hospital setting felt like the perfect fit...
Meet Dani: Finance
Right now, my focus is practical: completing my co-op term, finishing my Finance degree, which includes a minor in Data Science, and preparing for the CFA Level 1 exam next year. These are the next steps in building the skills I need to pursue my career goals. But more than that, UCalgary has given me the confidence to believe I can contribute meaningfully...
Meet Kyl: Nursing
In the past three years, my time in the nursing program has been nothing short of transformative. I have learned so much about healthcare, myself, and the world around me. Nursing school isn’t just about studying diseases and treatments—it’s about developing resilience, adaptability, and a deep sense of empathy...
Meet Yalena: Commerce of Business
I've always considered myself an extrovert, and while it took some time to discover the right places to connect, I knew that finding community was just a matter of stepping out of my comfort zone. It was only because I took a risk that I could find not only friends but also a true community on campus, and this was through joining clubs.
Meet Tahamina and Ishrat: Computer Science
As a Computer Science student, my first days were a mix of excitement and intimidation. Surrounded by so many brilliant people, I felt a bit overwhelmed. But the more I got involved, the more I discovered that UCalgary’s Computer Science department has tons of resources and support to help students like me succeed. My experience truly transformed when I got involved with the Computer Science Undergraduate Society (CSUS)...
Meet Asha: Political Science
Studying in the Faculty of Arts has allowed me to take a diverse range of courses from political science to sociology to communications and media studies. This has encouraged me to think critically about current events, engage with different viewpoints, and deeply listen to other’s stories. I’ve been particularly interested in the making and implementation of policy around migration and human rights...
Meet Racheal: Biological Sciences
My professors have played a significant role in my academic growth. They encourage me to engage in extracurricular activities and always post information about various events happening on campus, that they deem will be of benefit to us. This holistic approach to education has helped me develop a well-rounded skill set...
Meet Kim: Accounting
My involvement within the UCalgary community made me realize that instead of finding ourselves, we build ourselves based on the experience, connections, and knowledge we accumulate in our lives. University can be overwhelming at times, and please know that you are not alone. I am continuously grateful to my family, friends, mentors, UCalgary Residence staff, and my professors and instructors for supporting me become who I am today...
Meet Gabreiella: Nursing
I still remember that morning in February 2024. It was 5AM in the Philippines, and I was standing in my school uniform, half-asleep, packing my books for another long day. I was months away from graduating high school—caught between fear and excitement about the future—and I was absentmindedly scrolling through my phone notifications when suddenly, I saw an unread email from my inbox with one word on the header...
Meet Vina: Biomedical Sciences
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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...
Meet Ali: Political Science
I finished high school in 2022, just as the world was emerging from the global pandemic, and like many students at the time, I felt unsure about my future. I didn’t have a clear sense of which career path I wanted to pursue, so I made the decision to take a gap year. That time gave me the space to reflect, explore my interests, and learn more about myself. If you’re feeling uncertain right now, I want you to know you’re not alone—I was in the same place...
Meet Raisa: Computer Science
As a computer science student, I had so much to explore and so much to learn. I built a rich social life, volunteered, joined clubs, made amazing friends, and grew as a person because UCalgary truly offers endless opportunities beyond academics...
Meet Jasmine: Accounting
Crossing an ocean and arriving in a completely new continent felt overwhelming at first, but looking back now, the single moment of courage became the starting point of a path shaped by community, purpose, and the unexpected growth I experienced over two years at the University of Calgary...
Meet Teagan: Biology
Growing up, I loved being outdoors, which inspired me to pursue a degree in Biology with a concentration in Biodiversity and Conservation. After my first year, I added a minor in International Indigenous Studies. As someone who is Tahltan First Nation and of mixed European descent, I've always walked between these two worlds...
Meet Azrina: Political Science
What also makes political science exciting is the diversity of people it brings together. In my classes, I’ve met aspiring lawyers, policymakers, activists, and researchers. Being in that environment has taught me not only the course material but also how to see problems from many angles, which has made the experience both challenging and inspiring...
Meet Dianne: Mathematics and Gender Studies
I began my academic journey within the mathematics program, drawn by my love for numbers and analytical problem-solving. However, what really stuck with me was the many experiences that allowed me to meet all the like-minded friends I made along the way and those I connected with who shared the same passion...
Meet Veronica: Design/City Innovation
This program has been more fulfilling than I ever could have imagined. Design school is challenging—learning skills like modeling, drawing, 3D rendering, and animation takes discipline, creativity, and ambition. But the growth you see in yourself, and your peers makes it all worth it...
Meet Alice: Kinesiology
The Kinesiology program at UCalgary has offered me so many unique classroom opportunities to enhance my degree. As a person whose learning style is heavily influenced by hands-on activities, my first-year courses in Anatomy and Physiology and Sports Medicine featured labs that allowed me to apply my skills with cadavers and injury prevention methods...
Meet Kristina: Anthropology
Going through my 3rd year in my Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, I’ve had many opportunities to add a wide variety of valuable experiences to my degree. The idea of adding a minor to my degree hit me in my first year as I was taking a Museum and Heritage Studies class, where my professor mentioned that a minor for the same discipline was offered at the university—I jumped at the chance to make my degree more valuable and widen my range of skills...
Meet Steven: Mechanical Engineering
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UCalgary is bursting with opportunities, all you need is the courage to get involved. Some of my other best memories at UCalgary have come from my involvement in the Scholars Academy, the Ambassadors Club, the Engineering Leadership Program, and the Engineering Entrepreneurship Program. If you don’t know where your post-secondary education will take you or what you want the next four years to look like, it’s okay...
Meet Paulina: International Relations
I’ve had the opportunity to learn two modern languages (French and Arabic), to specialize my education by studying a specific region (Latin America), and even explore thematic courses in security, strategy and international organizations. As an aspiring diplomat, this academic path has been incredibly fulfilling and fruitful...
Meet Arista: Engineering
My most memorable and, by far, favorite experiences have come from joining a Club. UCalgary has over 300 Student Union Clubs, which allow our students to connect to the larger campus community and make friends they likely would not have met within their degree. When I started my undergraduate journey at UCalgary it was the beginning of COVID-19 and I wanted to make some friends even though everything was online...
Meet Jashanpreet: Law & Society
The day my PR was approved, everything changed. I immediately started looking at universities, and UCalgary was always the name I heard the most — the community, the campus, the opportunities, the energy. I applied in January for the Fall semester, and in February, I opened my inbox and saw the email that made my heart stop...
Meet Lillian: Marketing
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I’ve known that the University of Calgary was the place for me since my first campus tour. I was in grade 10, super eager to start exploring universities because I loved academics and all things nerdy. I loved the energy on campus and the spaces, and I could really see myself here. That was when I set my sights on UCalgary and decided this was where I wanted to be...
Meet Ellen: Psychology
When heading into my final year of high school, however, I had no idea what I wanted to study. While many of my friends seemed to have a clear passion they wanted to explore, I was still figuring out what path felt right for me. I knew that I enjoyed aspects of both the arts and sciences, but I didn’t know what that could look like in terms of a degree. After a lot of time spent researching programs and talking to family, I decided to apply for a BSc in Psychology because...
Meet Julia: Design/City Innovation
The BDCI program has a welcoming, tight-knit community — we spend most of our days learning together in the same space and even have assigned desks! This makes it really easy to make friends with people who share similar ideas, passions, and hobbies. It’s where I’ve found some of my lifelong friends...
Meet Aarushi: Chemical Engineering
These experiences expanded my perspective and inspired me to launch the Iron Pin Initiative, a tradition where first-year engineering students pledge to help build a resilient and inclusive community. One of my proudest memories that year was helping organize the First-Year Engineering Dinner, welcoming more than 300 students and faculty into a shared celebration of community...
Meet Raiyana: Design/City Innovation
When I set foot on campus at the University of Calgary, I knew I had entered a world that blended design, social entrepreneurship and meaningful service. Today, as a student in the inaugural Bachelor of Design in City Innovation program and an active leader in campus and community initiatives, I see how the pieces are falling into place, and how every project, committee and connection has brought me closer to a vision of inclusive and impactful change...
Meet Prithul: Marketing
Academically, I’m really grateful to be at a university that prioritizes community building and hands-on learning. Being in business, I got to take courses like Entrepreneurship and Innovation 317, where we had the chance to develop our own innovative business ideas...
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Meet Enya: Nursing
The skills I gained through my extracurriculars have played a huge role in my development as a student nurse. Nursing goes beyond the clinical knowledge you learn in class as it also requires strong leadership and the ability to collaborate in various environments...
Meet Becca: Engineering
After talking with the students, I realized that Geomatics Engineering checked every box for me. I was drawn to the open-endedness of the program, which offered two main paths: one in the cadastral concentration, providing opportunities to work outside as a land surveyor, and another focused on the tech industry, particularly in navigation systems...
Meet Cassidy: Education
Studying at the Werklund School of Education has given me the flexibility to tailor my learning experience in ways that align with my personal interests and career aspirations. For instance, as someone deeply passionate about the well-being of students, I chose to pursue the embedded certificate in Mental Health and Resiliency alongside my Bachelor of Education...
Meet McKinley: Nursing
Pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing has definitely been a challenge—but it’s also been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s the perfect mix of hands-on learning, fascinating medical knowledge, and a whole lot of caffeine-fueled study sessions. I’ve gained confidence in my skills, built lifelong friendships, and experienced the thrill of clinicals, where everything I’ve learned truly comes to life...
Meet Annie: Community Health Sciences
From Critical Disability Theory to Disability and Aging, my coursework has provided me with a deep understanding of the barriers and stigma surrounding disability. These courses have taught me to view rehabilitation from a social and community-based perspective, where the focus is on inclusivity and advocacy. One course that stands out to me from my first year is CORE 207...
Meet Alvi: Electrical Engineering
Each class showed real life applications of the information that I learned, and how it can be used to improve people’s lives significantly. One course that especially stands out is “Introduction to Engineering Design”, also called ENGG 200, where I learned about the design process, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship by...
Meet Larissa: Social Work
It wasn’t just about finding my classes anymore—it was about finding my place in a vast and vibrant community. Now, as a third-year student in the Bachelor of Social Work program, I feel incredibly fortunate to have found my place and my people, and to reflect on the journey that has brought me here...
Meet Nicole: International Relations
Taking part in an international exchange with the University of Calgary has, hands-down, been one of my memorable experiences throughout my time as a UCalgary student. As part of my degree in International Relations, I am required to take classes in another modern language besides English...