Nursing;
South Korea

I had a lot of personal life crises happening in my second year of nursing in first semester, and my entire faculty was there to help me and guide me through to overcome my problems. Knowing that all my professors would be there to listen to me and help me through the four years of nursing was very comforting.

Music has always been a big part of my life, and as a student, I try to incorporate music into every day. I have befriended many music students, have taken music classes at Lakehead, and attended and played at open mic nights. I have taken a moccasin-making class every year since I was at Lakehead and will be running the classes next school term!

The pivotal experience I had at Lakehead would be working as a campus tour guide. Working as a campus tour guide, I was able to meet even more people and get to know Lakehead better. That has allowed me to look back and appreciate Lakehead so much more.

Social Work
Kerala, India

"The Canadian education system is entirely different than the schooling I received in India. Everything in Canada was new to me but Lakehead made my transition easier. Everyone at Lakehead is so welcoming, and living in Residence during my first year helped me meet many new people. Lakehead has now become my home away from home.

After deciding to come to Canada, I picked Lakehead for my HBSW program because it is one of Canada's most supportive institutions and is known for being a value added university! So I knew I would receive a great education. The student-to professor ratio is small so I receive individual attention in my program. Lakehead offers student-centered learning, and I can only describe Lakehead faculty as more than amazing. Plus, the free tutoring is a huge stress relief!

The Study coffeehouse is the best place to study, and when I'm hanging out with friends I love to go to the Outpost. I also like to explore the wonderful city of Thunder Bay when I am not in class. I am proud to be a part of Lakehead. Coming to Lakehead University has been one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. I hope that it is your decision too!"

Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry 
London, ON

Inaugural recipient of the Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forestry (2013)

I graduated from Lakehead in 2011 with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the faculty of Natural Resources Management. The small class sizes allowed my faculty to guide me through valuable hands-on and academic training, developing skills, which I would directly apply in my future jobs. Forestry and forest management is both a science and an art, and covers an incredibly broad spectrum of work within Canada's natural environments. As a student, I had a wide variety of summer jobs ranging from breeding bird surveys in southern Ontario, to industrial forestry work in northeastern British Columbia. The experience I gained through my four years at Lakehead gave me confidence in my skills and knowledge, and I had no trouble picking up full-time work after graduation.

From the first year of my program and on, I have always advocated for Lakehead. I was a campus tour guide when I was a student and spent much of my time helping organize and run student events in my faculty. I was honoured to be voted in as the President of the Lakehead University Forestry Association in 2010/2011, and to then speak as Valedictorian for my class at our Ring Ceremony. For me, Lakehead offered an unparalleled sense of community; my peers quickly became both colleagues and family and I made life-long friends.

Today, I live and work on Vancouver Island based out of Campbell River, British Columbia. Through my consulting work I have been able to explore many of the islands and inlets of the West Coast, including Haida Gwaii. 

As a result of my volunteer activity, consulting, and professional development on the west coast, I was fortunate enough to receive the the first-ever Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forestry from the Canadian Institute of Forestry in 2013. 

My time at Lakehead still makes a difference in my work every day, and I am proud to say where I came from.

Honours Bachelor of Commerce
Scarborough, ON

"I wanted a University with a close community feel, and I really found that at Lakehead! It offers a very pleasant university experience where you make a lot of friends very easily. Classes are great too because Lakehead's class sizes are smaller than other universities, so as an individual you are more engaged in the lectures. I find the professors are also very helpful. They are genuinely interested in the success of their students, and encourage questions before, during or after lectures in order to ensure everyone has a thorough understanding of the material. At Lakehead university, you are not just a number!

My favourite study spot is a cubicle in the library where I am able to study in silence. However, I recently found the larger group tables in the library to be useful in order to go over certain topics with classmates.

When I am not in class or studying in the library, I like to go out with friends. My favourite hang out, would have to be the Outpost; it has a large projection TV screen so it is a great place to watch a game or have a delicious lunch."

History, Concurrent Education
Brampton, Ontario 

"I choose Lakehead University because it offered my program of interest, Concurrent Education. Another factor was that I needed a change in scenery from the big city lifestyle of Southern Ontario to something smaller like Thunder Bay, which allows me to be independent. Lakehead provides a learning environment where everyone is friendly and enjoyable and gives me the real sense of a connected community. Lakehead is a diverse community, which allows me to grow academically and personally. I have met and become friends with people from all over the place.

Another great thing about Lakehead is that professors get to know your name, which allows me to build an excellent relationship with them. The professors are extremely supportive, dedicated, open, and are always willing to help and do an excellent job of encouraging student to seek assistance when needed.

I am a part of the LU Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Club team. It’s a great opportunity for me to take a break from my academics and free my mind of my workload. Another way that I’m involved on campus is that I’m a Student Ambassador where I help support new and prospective LU students through orientation activities, school spirit, and community engagement."

Chemistry
Thunder Bay, Ontario

"I appreciate the combination of unique research opportunities, academic excellence, and enhanced interaction with professors offered by Lakehead. For a relaxing afternoon, I opt for a walk by Lake Tamblyn or a swim at the gym. When studying for exams, I prefer a quiet booth in the main library.  

The chemistry department at Lakehead provides great flexibility in academics, unparalleled research opportunity and a stimulating small class environment. The best aspect of studying at Lakehead is the fusion of a relaxed social environment with an intellectual atmosphere."

Psychology
Woodbridge, ON

I really got a sense of what the Lakehead community valued for themselves and students – not only was this a great place to earn your degree, but a place to grow as individual whether that be through research initiatives, community activities or becoming a campus LEADer!

Some activities I have completed in the lab include participating as an experimenter for a study, conducting field research with First Nations Health Authority unit, and coordinating our laboratory for Lakehead’s Research and Innovation Day, just to name a few. It is wonderful to be with other students in the lab who also share similar academic and research interests.

At this stage in my journey, coming to Lakehead in Thunder Bay has been my most pivotal experience. The opportunities and people I have met have enriched my education and research interests, shaped my values, and have touched my heart.

Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry
Cambridge, ON

When I was considering attending Lakehead University, I remember speaking to the dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources Management, who told me “if you want to be anonymous, don’t come here.” Those words stuck with me, and when I visited Lakehead University for the first time, I knew it was the school for me. 

A big part of obtaining a post-secondary education is about the connections that you make while working towards your degree, a central focus of the one-of-a-kind Natural Resources Management Program. For students who love the outdoors and want to make a difference in the responsible management of natural resources, this program is one to consider. What I like most about Lakehead is the close-knit school community, the open door policy with professors and the practical, hands-on learning afforded by our faculty.

Thunder Bay is a fantastic place to go to school, with all the amenities of a large city, yet a very supportive, active community and unparalleled outdoor recreation just minutes from the downtown. Opportunity knocks everywhere around campus—whether volunteering for one of the many student societies, participating in off-campus field trips or working alongside professors and graduate students, there is a myriad of learning opportunities outside the classroom, which is the real draw for students. After completing the program, I will be very well qualified to obtain work in the natural resources field or to further my studies in graduate school. The opportunity to learn in such a supportive school community where everyone is committed to seeing you succeed makes Lakehead University a cut above for those seeking a unique and fulfilling post-secondary education. 

Honours Bachelor of Social Work

Josh Briand, 34, is a fourth year Honours Bachelor of Social Work (HBSW) student who has spent over six years on a journey of recovery following a tour in Afghanistan in 2007 and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Briand decided to enter the armed forces shortly after high school during his first year of college. He realized that college wasn’t the best place for him at the time. “I wasn’t really ready for college and I saw my life going in the wrong direction.  I needed some discipline in my life, so I joined the military.” After heading to Manitoba for training, then to Petawawa to join the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Briand felt he was where he belonged. “I liked the military, even with its ups and downs; it helped to turn me into more of a man than the teenager I was. The military was bringing me up to where I wanted to be.”

Briand was part of a military disaster response team in Sri Lanka following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, and then, in 2007, was sent on an eight-month active combat tour to Afghanistan. This is where the situation changed for Briand and created the challenges he has struggled to overcome ever since.

“When I got back from Afghanistan, my life started going downhill.  In Afghanistan, I saw a lot of bad situations and had to do some things that went against my morals. When I got back, this experience translated in PTSD and when I realized I had hit rock bottom, I asked for help. 

“The Edgewood Centre in BC was where I met a psychiatrist, Dr. Vincent, who was the first one to diagnose me with PTSD,” said Briand. “I just got lucky to get Dr. Vincent; he saw something in me and told me that I was not an addict. “Armed with a full report and explanation of his PTSD diagnosis, Briand was encouraged.  But to his disappointment, the information in Dr. Vincent’s report was not recognized by the military and Briand was sent back to counseling services to treat drug addiction. Discouraged, Briand slipped back into self-medication.

Another two years passed, and numerous visits with military counselors and social workers, before Briand came to the realization that something was wrong with the treatment he and his fellow veterans, also suffering from PTSD, were receiving.

A friend and fellow veteran encouraged Briand to leave the military and go back to school. Briand compared his situation at the time to trying to climb over a wall. “It felt like the military was hanging on to me, making it difficult to get over the wall.” After nine years in the military, Briand was released and he enrolled in the Social Services Worker program at Sir Sandford Fleming College.

“College was a stepping stone for me,” said Briand. With a goal of wanting to raise awareness of PTSD, help mitigate the stigma associated with the disorder, and advocate for more relevant treatment, Briand learned that he would need more than a college diploma to meet his goals.

“College got me ready for university,” said Briand.  In 2011 Briand was accepted into the Honours Bachelor of Social Work program at Lakehead University. Now in his final year, he says the program has been both challenging and inspiring.

 “The program at Lakehead has helped me know more about where I want to go and how to be successful,” explained Briand. “The most important thing I’ve learned is understanding my passion about where I want to be.” 

After graduating, Briand hopes to work in a treatment centre setting working with addictions and trauma. He also plans to pursue a Master of Social Work degree, something he knows he’ll need to achieve his goals.

His long-term plan is to open his own treatment centre to treat military personnel. “I would love to have my own holistic treatment centre and have the contract for military personnel.” “Josh is a wonderful example of the dedication and drive of our students,” said Lakehead Orillia Dean & Vice-Provost Kim Fedderson. “He will be taking the skills and knowledge he has gained at Lakehead and contributing to the improvement of our society.”

With the many challenges Briand has overcome, he will no doubt meet his career goals and make a difference, especially to those suffering from PTSD. In fact, Briand says that Veterans Affairs already uses his journey of challenges and achievements as a success story. “I do feel fortunate when I look at where I was and where I am today.”

Bachelor of Civil Engineering 
Mississauga, ON

I chose Lakehead because it is one of the only universities in Canada that gives the opportunity to students that have an Engineering Technology diploma from college, to continue pursuing their career goals by receiving a Bachelors of Engineering in two years. Their program is designed to allow students to transition from college by doing some summer courses and continues in third year.

 It was a very interesting experience for me, since I had never been to Thunder Bay, but I had a feeling that it was going to be a great experience and an opportunity to meet new people and a new city. Also, I think Lakehead as a university is great because it is small enough in order to having small class sizes, but big enough to always have something to do and participate in all kinds of activities. 

As a student with Latin American descent, I got very passionate about helping spread culture around the university, so I started volunteering with the Multicultural Centre at the university. There I met many great people who were also very passionate and hard working and we organized many events at the school.

By being involved with the MCC, I also started working with an organization called WUSC which stands for World University Services of Canada. This organization helps with many different causes, but the one that caught my attention the most was that they help sponsor students from refugee camps around the world and give them the opportunity to study at a Canadian university. I feel very lucky to have attended university in Canada but many people don’t have the same luck as me, therefore I found that by working with WUSC I would make a small contribution to better the life of others.

After working with WUSC for a few months, I heard about the opportunity to participate in the WUSC International Seminar, which allows Canadian youth to see firsthand the impact of international development and to work with local students and organizations from the host country. The 2013 Seminar was being held in Guatemala and since I speak Spanish I felt it was the perfect opportunity for me. It was a great opportunity for me to learn, make great connections and have a better awareness of world around me.

I think Lakehead can really prepare you for your future because it teaches you to be a global citizen and to be the best you can be in your career. For me, having different clubs and people from different cultures and nationalities all working together at the same school helped me become a more global citizen. The education was great and I am sure that all the hard work will be paid off in the future as we Lakehead graduates start our careers.

As for plans for the future, I am currently in Lyon, France doing an internship at INSA (Institut National des Sciences Appliquées ) and working at a lab on a project related to Civil Engineering (All thanks to the help of the LU International Office who helped me find this internship). 

After this, I will go back to Canada and work and will hopefully do my Masters in a year or two. My goal is to get involved in the International Development field and use Civil Engineering as a means to help developing communities that do not have the resources the we do here in Canada to have access to proper drinking water, roads, schools etc, as well as working in post disaster zones where whole cities and communities might be to be rebuilt.