I chose to study at McGill because I wanted to learn from the giants of psychology who roamed – and continue to roam – its halls. Growing up in an international city (Geneva), I was also drawn to Montreal’s bilingual and multinational charm.
Two aspects of my McGill experience stand out for me. The first was the sense of community and friendship I felt as part of the McGill African Students’ Society and other Black student organizations (Black Students’ Network, National Society of Black Engineers, African Studies Students' Association of McGill) on campus. Even though we came from different countries and studied in different disciplines, we encouraged one another and became each other’s home away from home. I’m blessed to still have this sense of home as an alumna. The second aspect of my McGill experience that stands out was the generosity and kindness of the professors of my program. I really appreciated the time they took to answer my questions – no matter how trivial – and provide an enriching learning experience.
As an undergraduate, I was actively involved in campus social life through my time on the executive team of the McGill African Students’ Society. Being a part of that community was a great encouragement to me through the academic difficulties of life at McGill and I genuinely enjoyed being able to encourage my fellow students and help them succeed. I wanted to re-create that community after graduation, not only for my fellow alumni, but also as a way of bridging the gap between Black members of McGill’s alumni, student, faculty, and staff communities
My colleagues and professors at McGill taught me the value of kindness and generosity. That no matter how smart or accomplished a person may be, a true measure of our contribution to this world is the care and respect with which we treat others.