Sheree

Hinz

Honours Bachelor of Science in Geology
Thunder Bay, ON

Thunder Bay is my hometown, and that heavily influenced my choice for a University. I also knew that the geology department here has a great reputation for using practical methods of teaching with lots of hands-on learning. It made sense to study earth science here in Northern Ontario where we can easily observe the rocks and formations we study in classes. As a visual learner, the field trips available to us really helped deepen my understanding and grow my passion for geology. I love the small class sizes at Lakehead, which made getting help from professors and making friends very easy. The professors are always willing to stop and help the students in any way they can. One of my professors loves talking to students about their specific interests and what type of careers they want to specialize in. She takes the time out of her busy life to lend books, offer advice and share contacts to help motivated students reach their goals. Those types of interactions set Lakehead apart from larger universities.

In addition to my studies, I have spent the last two years competing with the Thunderwolves curling team at OUA’s, which has really enriched my Lakehead experience. The geology club, though small, helps make a community out of the students in the department. They organize activities and get-togethers, which help to grow friendships with the people you’ll be working alongside for four years. There is a lot of support from other undergraduate and graduate students in the department, and there have been several older students who helped guide me through my degree by offering encouragement, moral support as well as answers to the many questions I had. Lakehead was the perfect choice for me, and I have learned so much through all my experiences here. The small class sizes and hands-on learning have been so valuable to me and I have graduated Lakehead University with a thorough understanding of geology, a wonderful group of friends, innumerable skills, and the confidence to move forward in my career.