YouAlberta
Welcome YouAlberta’s “Have You Met” series in collaboration with @ualbertastudents! Every other week we’ll get to know a student from the University of Alberta.
Have you met Madison, an undergraduate student in her fourth year of psychology? Spend a few minutes getting to know her a little better.
What three words best describe your U of A experience?
- Surprising
- Challenging
- Unforgettable
Why did you decide to study your major?
I had actually planned to do a biology major when I was in highschool and it was just by chance one of my friends suggested I take a psychology class with her. In PSYCO 104 I realized how interesting and applicable psychology could be and I appreciated the fact that there was both a science stream and an arts stream. I’m definitely a biology person at heart but loved that psychology is a nice balance between how things work at the cellular level and the way this applies to real life.
What advice would you give to your first year self?
Don’t be scared to branch out and try new things or meet new people. Everyone in university is super laid back and friendly — we’re all in it together and for the most part everyone loves to help each other out. It’s also so important to find a work-life balance. This comes with time, but definitely setting priorities and planning ahead make a big difference and will give you more time to enjoy the fun aspects of university.
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
This is a difficult question for sure, but if I had to pick one I’d say Hillary Clinton. I know there’s so much controversy around politics, but what I find really interesting about her is how hard she had to work in highschool and university in order to prove herself to her peers. She grew up in a time where equal rights were not always very apparent, and still she became such a strong, successful woman especially in her legal career. I think it would be really cool to hear her perspective on that and how it would be similar and different to my university experience.
What is your favourite way to unwind after a long day?
Definitely watching some Netflix with a nice glass of wine.
What do you miss most about campus/in-person classes?
I miss getting the opportunity to talk to people on a regular basis, especially my friends that I don’t get to see all the time. It’s also such a great way to meet people and I keep thinking about how I might have missed out on forming new friendships since everything is virtual.
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of my feature in the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s LEAP magazine as the youngest member of the cancer research project that I’m currently a part of. It was extremely exciting to be given the opportunity to talk about our project and also show some perspective on how you can get involved in research on campus. It’s also a bit of a crazy story for me because I reached out to my supervisor on a bit of a whim and didn’t expect to fall in love with research as much as I have.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
One thing I can’t live without is spin class. I’ve been going 3–4 times a week to spin at CycleBar Windermere and it’s such a good workout and also a great way to destress. I’ve been an athlete for most of my life but it definitely took a back seat once I started school and I’m so happy I found an easy way to stay active that I also love.
What is your go-to study snack?
Baby cucumbers with hummus and a glass of diet Coke. Definitely a random combination but I always have them in my fridge so it’s for sure my go-to.
Who inspires you?
My biggest inspiration would have to be my Aunt. She is extremely intelligent and hard-working and had to overcome a lot when she was younger, but still managed to become extremely successful in her life and in her career. She’s also so kind and outgoing and one of those people that are so down to earth and easy to talk to that you’d never guess how hard they work behind the scenes.
About Madison
Madison is a fourth year student completing her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Biomedical Research Certificate in Cell Biology. She is also part of a research lab in the Faculty of Medicine working on a clinical trial that is testing a new form of cancer treatment which will be taking place at the Cross Cancer Institute in the next couple of years.