I have to admit that I did not choose McGill for its reputation of academic excellence, but simply because I wanted to join the Martlets and continue playing basketball. My English was intermediate at best and I had no idea what I was getting into. My first three years were spent juggling school, daily practices and trainings, games, tournaments, and the few work shifts at the McGill Sport Medicine Clinic that I was able to squeeze in. It was intense to say the least; but those three years were probably the most formative of my life.
Once I “retired” from basketball and suddenly became a “regular” student with just a part-time job on the side – having been used to a busy schedule and the demanding commitment of being a student-athlete – it felt as though I had way too much time on my hands and I started thinking of ways to get involved. It was my final year of undergrad and I decided to complete a research project in the lab of Dr. Timothy Geary. Tim turned out to be the most significant mentor I have ever had and this experience led me to eventually pursue a PhD. I would also sign up for just about any volunteer position I could find and eventually sought longer-term commitments.
I started developing projects, such as the Agora Speaker Series, which brings world-class leaders from various fields to the Macdonald Campus to discuss some of the most pressing issues in our society. Mandated by Anja Geitmann, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the series is a wonderful opportunity to enhance the visibility of the Macdonald Campus and it allows the McGill community to meet and interact with leaders from various fields and connect with people outside of academia.
The success of the Agora Speaker Series inspired me to come up with my own project – The Annual Montreal Parasitology Symposium (AMPS). I was inspired by the observation that, for various reasons, many master’s and even PhD students graduate without having had the opportunity to attend a single conference. Knowing how crucial science communication and networking are to a career in research, these students find themselves at a clear disadvantage. This symposium comprises a keynote speaker and a guest speaker, with presentations otherwise restricted to students and postdoctoral fellows.
Our inaugural event (AMPS 2019) was held on the Macdonald Campus and attracted over 100 researchers from eight different universities. The announcement of the inaugural event was followed by an outpouring of enthusiasm and support. Additionally, the symposium itself was used as a platform to revive discussions about the formation of a scientific society and about ways to increase connectivity between institutions across Canada. The clear need for such an event in the field of parasitology drives me to ensure that AMPS grows to become a part of the parasitology research tradition in Quebec.
Through these experiences, I have had the chance to connect with many people whom I would have never met otherwise. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to build and materialize these projects, which all represented an incredible learning experience, allowing me to develop skills that make me better suited to undertake future endeavors. The success of these projects also speaks of the immense help I have received from various people in the McGill community who continue to help, encourage, and advise me along the way.