I’m Nimrit Jhinjar, a second-year MA student in the School and Applied Child Psychology Program. I grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, and earned my Honours BSc in Psychology at the University of Alberta, where my passion for amplifying the voices of neurodivergent individuals took root. For my thesis, I’m exploring how autistic youth make sense of their hopes, strengths, and challenges as they prepare to graduate from high school. By centering their perspectives, I aim to highlight the kinds of supports and opportunities that make the move from school to adulthood more meaningful and empowering. Outside of research, you can usually find me walking along the sea wall with my dog, Augie, experimenting in the kitchen, or sweating it out in a group fitness class. If I could give my pre-grad school self some advice, it would be: embrace every part of who you are, and don’t be afraid to lean on your people, friends, peers, and family, when life gets overwhelming.