Tell us about yourself.
I’m from Callander, a small town in Northern Ontario. I graduated from the University of Ottawa with a degree in Psychology (Hons B.A.) and a minor in Management. I spent three of my four years working in Residence as a Community Advisor where I lived among first-year students as they attempted to navigate university life. That is where I learned that I think best on my feet and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment. I grew up playing hockey competitively and I’ve competed in two bodybuilding competitions. While my direction has shifted, my determination remains. I hope to channel that drive into success at Ryerson Law.
What area of law would you like to practice?
I’ve always found it strange to hear a first-year medical student declare their goal of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon without ever having held a beating heart in their hands. For the same reason, I don’t feel like I’m qualified to answer this with only a week of law school under my belt. I don’t want to limit myself in any capacity, and in my opinion, that means keeping my options open. That being said, I have learned that I enjoy working with people and that I like to get creative in finding solutions. Over the next three years, I plan on immersing myself in all areas of the law to eliminate what I don’t like so that I can find the area I’m truly passionate about.
Why did you choose Ryerson Law?
I chose Ryerson Law for the same reason that most people don’t opt to shop in last year's style section. As one faculty member put it on Welcome Day, “Why do what has already been done?” In my opinion, there are already enough lawyers that have received a traditional version of legal education. I don’t want to look back on the past, I want to prepare myself for the future. Ryerson is a law school that is adapting its curriculum to meet the current needs of the market. That, combined with its downtown location in one of the busiest cities in the world, made it an obvious choice for me.
What do you hope to accomplish with your J.D.?
I hope to use my J.D. as a tool to effect real change. What that change is will depend on what the world looks like when Dean Young (hopefully!) hands me my degree at graduation in three years. It has been made clear to me, however, that just being in law school also gives you an opportunity to do that, and so I don’t intend on waiting three years to start.
As a part of the inaugural cohort of Ryerson Law, what are you most looking forward to?
I’m excited to be around like-minded people. It’s not a small thing to place your legal career in the hands of a brand new program, and I had many conversations with people who thought there was too much uncertainty in being a first-year "guinea pig". While I acknowledge the risk, I think those of us here today more-so recognize this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Those are my kind of people. After only a week, it’s evident this cohort is so vibrant and thoughtful and I’m not only excited, but I’m honored to be a part of this.