丁香园AV

A love of volunteering and eagerness to get involved in activism has earned Simran Randhawa a  in 2019.

The award, given to one winner per faculty at 丁香园AV, recognizes self-identified women who set a high bar for achievements and drive positive change in their faculties.

The  organization hosted the where they recognized the Women of the Year winners. In addition to a citation, winners received a complimentary ticket to attend Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama on March 21.

Randhawa was the winner for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and is currently a third year student in the Department of Psychology.

鈥淚鈥檝e always found it fascinating to understand how people are the way that they are,鈥� says Randhawa. 鈥淚鈥檓 from India, where there exists a stigma attached to mental illnesses without an understanding of what they actually are. I wanted to learn more about mental illnesses in order to best serve my community.鈥�

In addition to working towards her psychology major, Randhawa is also completing certificates in general criminology, forensic studies, social justice, and liberal arts, and is heavily involved in volunteerism鈥攑articularly on campus.

Just to name a few, she鈥檚 a Board Member at , the 鈥檚 Representative at the SFSS Council, a collective member at , and a fundraiser for . In addition to all that, she finds the time to volunteer with , and has also been volunteering with the  for over four years.

鈥淭o oversimplify it, I do anything and everything that these organizations need,鈥� explains Randhawa of her activism. Her volunteer work with Vancouver Coastal Health, for example, involves serving food and providing mental health support and first aid to individuals battling addiction and HIV or AIDS.

鈥淚 got involved with all these organizations more than any other place I volunteered at because of the work they do,鈥� says Randhawa. 鈥淭hese organizations have collectively put the needs of marginalized groups first. They fight for equity, inclusion, and things that should be basic human rights, but that fall through the cracks somehow. I wanted to volunteer for them and do what I can to help.鈥�

Randhawa, who intends to continue volunteering as much as time permits, has plans to return to her home country of India for a while after graduation to give back to her community and possibly work for a non-profit.

鈥淚f given the opportunity, I would like to work in social work avenues while completing my master鈥檚 in psychology,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 wish to get my PhD in psychology someday, but that鈥檚 going to take a while.鈥�

When asked what advice she has for 丁香园AV students looking to get involved on campus, Randhawa stresses the importance of not getting overwhelmed, and being open to opportunities offered by equity-focused organizations.

鈥湺∠阍癆V often looks lonely, but once you get involved in different places鈥攚hichever they might be based on your interests鈥攊t has the potential of feeling like home.鈥�

Randhawa says that over the course of her undergraduate studies in psychology, her learnings have allowed her to mature and develop as a person.

鈥淚鈥檝e found that throughout my program, I haven鈥檛 just been getting a better understanding of mental illnesses, but also of people in general鈥攊ncluding myself,鈥� says Randhawa. 鈥淚鈥檓 growing into a person that is much more understanding and patient, and this growth is something that I enjoy.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a beautiful journey.鈥�