Kaitlyn Ferreira learned many things on the way to being awarded her honours bachelor of science degree alongside her fellow University College (UC) graduates today.
Her academic pursuits in cell & systems biology and human biology provided her with great insights into human health at varying scales — from the microscopic appreciation of the mechanisms required for an organism to exist, to the health and disease classes that offer a broader view of ethics, pathology and biotechnology.
However, the most valuable skills she acquired studying at U of T might be her penchant for finding ways to open doors for herself and an ability to be flexible when things don’t go as planned.
A recipient of a Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award for her extracurricular contributions, Ferreira reflected on her undergraduate years ahead of today’s milestone, and offered some thoughts to those students coming behind her — a group she’s had on her mind from the start.
What has been your most memorable experience at U of T?
Definitely the opening ceremonies as co-chair of UC Orientation in 2018. After nine months of planning, my partner and I stared out into this massive crowd that was just buzzing with excitement. In this sea of pink, purple and black frosh uniforms, I saw the faces of the students I had mentored as a student leader, as well as high school students I had met over the summer at UC Welcome Days.
I was incredibly humbled by the experience and proud of all I had accomplished.
Why did you get involved with UC Orientation?
I became involved with orientation very early in my university career. I found the whole experience so meaningful and exciting and I wanted to make that happen for others. As a leader, executive and co-chair, my focus was always on the first-year students and how I could make the overall experience better for them.
You were involved in other activities that help students find community. Why is that important to you?
It’s important to foster a positive community because university can be incredibly daunting and stressful — especially when you feel like you’re doing it all on your own. All of my roles — including a commissioner position on the UC Literary & Athletic Society — have given me the opportunity to remind students they have a support system to fall back on when they need to. And that very same support system can also encourage you to take risks, make big decisions and develop into a stronger person by the end of your journey here.
How easy was it to find things to do outside of your studies?
There are a ton of opportunities here, no matter your interests or circumstances. From clubs to classes to jobs, U of T has it all. My piece of advice for first-year students is to just ask — the worst someone can say is no.
That’s what pushed me to get involved in the things I did. I asked about opportunities available through orientation and eventually became co-chair. I asked about the funky coffeeshop in the Junior Common Room, and then worked as a barista at Diabolos for two years. I asked about fourth-year human biology courses, and ended up going to Amsterdam for a week with my dementia course, soaking up new models of care available in Europe.
I’ve also worked at Gerstein library for almost two years. I realized one day that I spend all of my time at the library anyway, so I might as well see if I could work there, too. My position there allowed me to support students in a way that my other roles have not.
How did your time at U of T prepare you for what comes next?
My time at U of T has prepared me for the ‘great beyond’ of post-graduation by making me a more relaxed person. I used to be super uptight with a strict plan that I couldn’t deviate from. Now, I take every loss or change to the plan as an opportunity to do something different. I open myself up to things I would have completely shut down.
Do you have any advice for new students or those in the early stages of their undergraduate studies?
Enjoy the failures as much as the successes. This sounds really out there at first, but trust me, it works.
In any moment of failure you’re going to be really upset and just want to curl into a ball. And that’s okay, you can do that — but after that, you’re going to roll your sleeves up, crack your knuckles and get back to work.
When you look back in a week or a month or a year, you’ll see that that moment of failure made you a stronger person, a better student, and opened you up to other possibilities that you wouldn’t have had if you succeeded in the first place.
Spring convocation is in full swing! See what's happening now.