I am a fourth-year student in the Master of Arts School and Applied Child Psychology program. After completing my masters, I intend to pursue a PhD in School and Applied Child Psychology. One of my main goals that I have in my career is to contribute to research on assessing and supporting linguistically and cognitively diverse learners in Canada. Through that, I hope to improve assessment and referral practices in Canada so that cognitively and linguistically diverse students can receive support properly tailored to their needs. Another goal of mine is to one day give back to the profession by assisting in the supervision and training of students and less experienced practitioners. I feel that this is important, as our field is so collaborative and because I have been given so much amazing mentorship, support, and instruction during my education. I was born in New Westminster and grew up in Vancouver. I completed my bachelor’s degree at UBC with a major in psychology and a minor in English literature. Later, I began my MEd in School and Applied Child Psychology and completed my internship with the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows school district. I transferred into the MA program in September 2022. I wanted to be a psychologist since I was 14 years old. After completing my bachelor’s, I wasn’t entirely convinced that I wanted to apply for the clinical psychology program at UBC anymore, so I worked as an education assistant and behaviour interventionist with the West Vancouver school district. During this time, I met a school psychologist and thought that their role in the district was exciting and dynamic, so I applied to the SACP program at UBC. I enjoy how closely we get to work with the faculty, as well as other students. The environment feels collaborative and community oriented. A fun fact about me is that I hold the record for the heaviest deadlift ever performed in competition by someone from British Columbia (343.5kg or 757lbs). I am currently seeded as the #2 super heavyweight powerlifter in Canada. Most people entering grad school are high achievers and want to be “good” at the things they’re doing, but I don’t think anyone is naturally “good” at all the aspects of school and applied child psychology that make you a competent practitioner. My advice is to humble yourself, try your best to learn, and let yourself make mistakes. By feeling we may be doing things “badly”, despite trying our hardest, we find what we need to work on to build our competence.