Arya Aghaei |
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Running for:
VP Internal (Niagara)
About me:
Prior to this program, I studied at McGill University (BSc) and University of Toronto for physiotherapy. I’m happiest on a snowboard, usually somewhere between “I’m ready for this ramp” and “this MCL sprain was worth the jump”. For reference, I snowboarded 26 days last season. I’m also the kind of person who can happily lose an evening to my computer, reading, exploring physics, or a philosophical rabbit hole with my close friends. I love to throw myself into new experiences and communities with curiosity and energy. My physiotherapy training taught me how to communicate across teams, advocate for others, and stay organized. It also inadvertently made me realize that I enjoy working in hectic, chaotic environments (go figure). Overall, I truly cherish my experiences that have led me here today and I hope to expand on those experiences in building a connected and engaged NRC and Mac Med community.
My platform:
In the role of VP Internal NRC, I hope to strengthen student representation, foster greater engagement across all three campuses, and build on the community where students genuinely feel known, supported, and connected. My experience representing learners during my previous academic endeavors, mentoring students, and bringing diverse perspectives together has taught me how to identify needs, organize, advocate, and follow through. I will work to support engagement between NRC, faulty and the MMSC through organized and accessible events, interest groups, and iMed initiatives, with the goal of building vibrant and lasting MacMed traditions that highlights student wellness. I also want to work closely with the other campus VPIs to create more shared academic, social, and extracurricular opportunities. All 3 campuses should have a strong identity without ever feeling isolated. We are three campuses, but one McMaster medical community.
How do you plan to ensure that EDI is integrated in your role(s)?
As a first-generation immigrant and older learner, I hope to use my perspectives that have been shaped by navigating academic and professional spaces at different stages of life. My commitment to EDI is informed by experiences in physiotherapy and student learner representation, where I worked alongside people with different backgrounds, abilities, and life experiences. From these, I learned how easily barriers can affect someone’s ability to participate in self-care or education, and I saw the importance of creating spaces where concerns can be raised safely and taken seriously. I will try my best to carry those lessons into how events, initiatives, and student feedback are designed. It will be one of my priorities to ensure a safe space where students can identify barriers related to accessibility, culture, scheduling, or belonging, followed by action where possible. My goal is to make this commonplace for everyday decision-making.
VP Internal (Niagara)
About me:
Prior to this program, I studied at McGill University (BSc) and University of Toronto for physiotherapy. I’m happiest on a snowboard, usually somewhere between “I’m ready for this ramp” and “this MCL sprain was worth the jump”. For reference, I snowboarded 26 days last season. I’m also the kind of person who can happily lose an evening to my computer, reading, exploring physics, or a philosophical rabbit hole with my close friends. I love to throw myself into new experiences and communities with curiosity and energy. My physiotherapy training taught me how to communicate across teams, advocate for others, and stay organized. It also inadvertently made me realize that I enjoy working in hectic, chaotic environments (go figure). Overall, I truly cherish my experiences that have led me here today and I hope to expand on those experiences in building a connected and engaged NRC and Mac Med community.
My platform:
In the role of VP Internal NRC, I hope to strengthen student representation, foster greater engagement across all three campuses, and build on the community where students genuinely feel known, supported, and connected. My experience representing learners during my previous academic endeavors, mentoring students, and bringing diverse perspectives together has taught me how to identify needs, organize, advocate, and follow through. I will work to support engagement between NRC, faulty and the MMSC through organized and accessible events, interest groups, and iMed initiatives, with the goal of building vibrant and lasting MacMed traditions that highlights student wellness. I also want to work closely with the other campus VPIs to create more shared academic, social, and extracurricular opportunities. All 3 campuses should have a strong identity without ever feeling isolated. We are three campuses, but one McMaster medical community.
How do you plan to ensure that EDI is integrated in your role(s)?
As a first-generation immigrant and older learner, I hope to use my perspectives that have been shaped by navigating academic and professional spaces at different stages of life. My commitment to EDI is informed by experiences in physiotherapy and student learner representation, where I worked alongside people with different backgrounds, abilities, and life experiences. From these, I learned how easily barriers can affect someone’s ability to participate in self-care or education, and I saw the importance of creating spaces where concerns can be raised safely and taken seriously. I will try my best to carry those lessons into how events, initiatives, and student feedback are designed. It will be one of my priorities to ensure a safe space where students can identify barriers related to accessibility, culture, scheduling, or belonging, followed by action where possible. My goal is to make this commonplace for everyday decision-making.