Emily Arsenault (she/her/hers) is a senior undergrad at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Her research interests are centered on Neuroscience, MDD, stress, oppressive systems and mental health. If you would like to connect with Emily, follow her on Twitter @emrose_15 and Instagram @em.explains!
- Where do you call home? Canada 🇨🇦
- What is a quote that you live by? “You can do hard things”
- What do you see yourself doing in the future? Science research, science communication, community-based work, teaching
- If you could switch fields/careers, what field/career would you want to work in/have?* I really love what I do so I don’t think I would switch but if I had to pick probably education.
- What frustrates you the most about academia? Imposter syndrome and feeing like I can’t do things just because I don’t know how/have never done them before/ am not close to anyone that has done them. It feels like a secret club that’s hard to get in to!
- What are three things you can’t live without?* Good food, exercise and the outdoors
- What message do you hope your research conveys to the public? Oppression creates biological changes that make people more vulnerable to disease, but these changes are reversible, particularly when the people are allowed to thrive in the way that is most relevant for them.
- Who do you do this for? Humanity, people who don’t have the same privilege as me, me, people who will believe in themselves from seeing me succeed.
- What is your proudest moment (so far)?* Seeing my name on a poster presented at an international conference!
- What is one piece of advice you would give to other first-gen students? You deserve to be here and you CAN be here. Don’t count yourself out, there are people who are willing to help, you just have to find them.
*borrowed from the 46 Questions blog!
A First-Gen's Guide to Grad School: How to Get in, Survive, and Thrive 