Michelle Ha from Cohort 2019 has always been inspired by the depths and abilities of science. In pursuit of her passion, she has started her academic journey at Langara College. Read more below.
What program will you be taking in post-secondary and why does it interest you?
Langara College. What’s happening in science in the modern day is the most fascinating thing happening at all. Everything in the world is based on the foundations of science! Foundations that we are still coming to understand after so many years of exploration. I find that science is underrated in public culture and perhaps not everybody acknowledges that everything that has ever been discovered or invented was a result of great scientists and people who pushed the bounds of knowledge and science. I always knew I wanted a career in service but it took awhile for me to narrow my options down.
While I still don’t have a specific career choice down, I have a vested interest in medicine and health that stemmed from a fascination of how complex human anatomy is and how much of it is still left a mystery. I know that I want to be part of unraveling those mysteries and being able to understand life itself.
Tell us a little bit about your background (growing up, going to school, extra-curricular activities, etc.).
I don’t have anything to compare it to, but I appreciated my childhood and the experiences I had, despite missing out on some due to financial barriers. My parents did their best and thinking back, there was always food on the table and my brothers and I always had a roof over our heads and for that I am eternally grateful.
I loved going to school, especially in elementary. I spent most of my time there, coming in early to play various sports, staying in the gym for lunch and even after school everyday. Sports were a huge part of my life back then and while it didn’t stay that way throughout all of high school, they will always be such a fond memory to think back on and will always maintain standing in my life. I volunteered a lot during high school at various community centres, single day events, and with other groups. It’s how I decided I wanted a career in service. I spent all this time helping people and I realized that I didn’t do it to kill time or to rack up hours, I did it because it was a passion of mine.
Who inspires you, and why?
Maybe a cliche, but my parents will always be my number one inspiration. Something I didn’t realize until I grew up was the hardships my parents underwent to provide a life for me where I was able to be tasked with following my dreams by tasking themselves with survival. They took care of everything, despite how many hours they had to work and how many years straight they worked without a day off. They are the embodiment of what hard work entails and my perception of them will never wither.
What motivates you, and why?
The driving force behind what motivates me is desire. The desire to make my parents proud, the desire to be successful enough to allow them to live comfortably for the rest of their life, the desire to experience everything the world has to offer, and so much more. The desire to feel things and be able to make people feel things is the root of it.
What are your goals for the upcoming school year?
My primary aspiration during my first year is to find a balance. A balance between my studies, work, family and friends, and my own private sphere. Time management is much easier in theory than in application. There is the fight between what you want and what you need and compromising between the two is a matter of self control. Sometimes, I’ll put all my effort and time into one aspect of my life without allocating any for others. It took me awhile to realize this was unhealthy and left me in a poor state of mind, but acknowledgement was a big step for me and I plan to use that to understand how balance is possible and what I can do to accomplish it.
What is one thing you will take with you to post-secondary that you learned in high school?
In elementary, things came easy for me and I picked up on material quicker than the average student. When I hit high school, things were a little bit harder and it was difficult for me to understand why I couldn’t keep the same pace I did back then. I was always praised for never needing help and being completely independent in my studies. I felt discouraged initially, but realized understanding and applying knowledge is worth the difficult journey. Needing help doesn’t make you lesser than peers; hard work and determination bring endless opportunities.
What is one piece of advice you would give to future Luminaries?
Stop knocking yourself up over little things that won’t matter in the next 72 hours! I spent a lot of time doing that and I deeply regret putting that much negativity and toxicity into my mind for no reason.
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