WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017 9
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
DISCOVERING PASSION AND PURPOSE THROUGH OPPORTUNITY
From a 12th-floor apartment keeping any sort of plant life alive is a challenge. So it may seem surprising Kwok Chu Tom Li left his Hong Kong high-rise to study all things green at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. But his decision is a prime example of how many students discover their passion, and career path, because of the options and opportunities available at the U of M. When Li learned he could volunteer in the university’s greenhouses — just one of over 350 campus activities — he unearthed a passion for horticulture. That led him to join a community service-learning program planting vegetables in the Rainbow
Community Gardens on campus. The Gardens support immigrant families from Winnipeg’s Central Park area, providing a place to grow food, share culinary traditions and build social networks. “Being able to share the knowledge and skills I learned in university makes my studies even more rewarding,” says Li. “It inspired me to get more involved in the community. When I graduate, I want to apply my full education to help solve the world’s food and hunger problems, especially in developing countries.” That’s a goal Noah Wilson also shares. The Cree student from Peguis First Nation chose the U of M because of its strong, supportive Indigenous community. He found a home-away-from-home at Migizii Agamik-Bald Eagle Lodge and took full advantage of experiences outside the classroom to find his voice, including being co-president of the U
of M’s Aboriginal Students Association. The sense of belonging and community he feels on campus inspired him to return the favour. “By investing in the student groups, I gained a passion and a purpose,” he says. “It directed me towards environmental law and Indigenous law. I want to help protect the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples and the environment, because both need to be preserved for the sake of future generations.” The U of M’s law program is just one of over 100 accredited and internationally-recognized programs on offer. By combining traditional classroom learning with any of the 100 service-learning, internship, paid co-op, or exchange programs available, students like Li and Wilson are able to find their passion and apply their knowledge and expertise in their future careers
no matter what field they choose. Learn more at UMconnect.ca ❚
I’M CARVING MY OWN PATH. MY CURIOSITY AND PASSION WILL HELP ME CARE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. I am driven. I am looking beyond how the human body functions to find out why . By connecting with my professors, I am also gaining hands-on lab experience and getting involved in leadership positions. Every chance to learn brings me closer to achieving my dream of becoming a pediatrician. Nothing can hold me back. I am a trailblazer. That’s why I study at the University of Manitoba, where students have options and opportunities. It’s a place where students are challenged to grow, encouraged to create and dared to excel. Harley Bray Faculty of Science w y
Discover where your path could take you at: UMConnect.ca
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