Orientation Fall 2024

What led you to OISE?
My wonderful professors and upper year mentors in the Education & Society Minor who inspired me to be like them. They spoke so highly of the program and I am so grateful to begin!

What are you most looking forward to?
I am looking forward to everything! Becoming a teacher has always been my dream since I was a child, and I am looking forward to meeting other people who are passionate about education as well as learning from their experiences.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
I am hoping to become an elementary school teacher after I complete my degree who fosters a love of learning and curiosity in my students.

What led you to OISE?
Both my mom and sister pursued graduate degrees at  the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education. While they pursued their degrees, they shared some of the insightful discussions that they were engaging in with peers and concepts they were learning in their programs. Their experiences clearly highlighted the high quality of teaching that is offered in the graduate programs at OISE, which encouraged me to explore the Master of Education in Counselling & Psychotherapy program at OISE.

What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to being surrounded by other likeminded individuals who are just as passionate about inclusive mental health care and psychotherapy. I am excited to learn from wonderful professionals who are world-renowned experts in the field. I am especially looking forward to the electives in my program such as trauma-informed interventions and emotion-focused therapy, for example, which will give me the opportunity to explore my niche interests early on and start to gain the relevant training and competencies to work with diverse populations.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
After completing my degree, I plan to work as a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) in private practice. I am especially interested in working with individuals from a trauma-informed approach while employing an attachment-based framework to support them with issues such as emotion regulation, interpersonal relationships and navigating family dynamics, to name a few.

What led you to OISE?
My passion for education and my desire to make a meaningful impact in the field led me to pursue my graduate studies at OISE. Specializing in educational research deeply resonated with my personal values and career aspirations. I was particularly drawn to the opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives and renowned educators who are at the forefront of educational innovation.

What are you most looking forward to?
I am eager to contribute to the educational community and grow as a researcher to transform education for the better. I look forward to gaining extensive research experience to implement programs that support the development of effective educational practices.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
I see myself pursuing a career that bridges educational practices, neuroscience research, and the fundamentals of teaching. My primary goal is to contribute to the academic community through teaching and conducting research that advances our understanding of child and adolescent development. Whether it be as a professor or working alongside the government, I aim to collaborate with educators, policymakers, and community organizations to translate research findings into practical interventions that enhance educational equity and student success.

What led you to OISE?
My decision to pursue my Master's at OISE was motivated by its unparalleled reputation as a leader in educational research and its commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in education. The Developmental Psychology and Education program, in particular, offered the unique combination of rigorous academic inquiry and practical application that I was seeking. OISE's faculty, know for their pioneering research and expertise in the field, and the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue on current educational issues, ultimately solidified my choice.

What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to delving deeper into the intersection of developmental psychology and education, particularly how research in this field can be translated into actionable strategies to enhance educational outcomes. Engaging with cutting-edge research, collaborating with thought leaders in the field, and contributing to scholarly discourse on the developmental needs of diverse learners are all aspects of the program that excite me. Additionally, I am eager to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings to address pressing challenges in educational practice.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
Upon completing my MEd, I am committed to furthering my academic and professional developmental by pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology. This will equip me with the expertise to conduct psychoeducational assessments and to work directly with school-aged children, particularly in identifying and addressing learning, behavioural, and developmental challenges. My aspiration is to engage in both clinical practice and research, contributing to the creation of evidence-based interventions that promote equitable learning environments. Through this path, I aim to collaborate with educators, policymakers, and families to ensure that children receive the comprehensive support necessary for their academic and personal growth.

What led you to OISE?
I was OISE by a few of my professors who attended the institution themselves. They spoke of their exciting student life their and the transformative lessons they learned during their time. Seeing their faces light up when talking about it made me especially interested in pursuing an education here.

What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to establishing myself within the OISE community and getting to meet new people and discover different perspectives all while shaping my own worldview. I am excited to start researching and developing my approach to teaching and creating a safe and supportive community for the children I work with.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
After completing my degree, I am hoping to pursue a PHD and continue pursuing even more knowledge and research on inclusive and adaptable learning. I feel that by engaging in this type of work can make a huge difference in the education field and contribute to positive and transformative change.

What led you to OISE?
I wanted to be a part of the prestigious University of Toronto community.

What are you most looking forward to?
Learning new things.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
Eventually opening my own clinic.

What led you to OISE?
The School and Clinical Child Psychology program distinguishes itself through its dual focus of school and clinical psychology. The dual focus is a large strength of the program and will best equip me to become a comprehensive psychologist with expertise in both domains. With cultural competency as an integral principle to the program’s outcomes, I will fulfill my aspirations of supporting diverse learners and children of all backgrounds. Additionally, I am thrilled by the opportunity to work under the guidance of Dr. Zachary Hawes. I am eager to contribute to meaningful research under his mentorship, which will not only address gaps in the literature but also inform my future practice as a clinician working with exceptional children. Given that OISE is ranked as the top school of education in Canada, I am confident that I will receive an outstanding education!

What are you most looking forward to?
The prospect of immersing myself in courses with subjects that deeply interest me is exciting, and I am enthusiastic about acquiring the foundational skills necessary to support children in schools. Coming from Manitoba, I look forward to engaging in Ontario’s education system to gain valuable insights and a new perspective into the practices and systems of a larger province. In addition, I look forward to building connections with like-minded peers and cultivating lasting professional relationships where we can support one another in our future careers.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
Since middle school, I have been passionate and dedicated to pursuing a career as a School Psychologist. After completing graduate school, I aspire to work in educational settings to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and youth. My goal is to become an inclusive and objective clinician grounded in an understanding and consideration of diverse students’ social and emotional learning needs within the broader context of the family, school, and cultural environments.

What led you to OISE?
An Interest to make developments in the Field of education, interlinking with Applied Psychology. After researching I got to know about OISE, and as such a known and reputed faculty even in one of the best universities, how could I not apply ?

What are you most looking forward to?
To learn about how developmental psychology and education can be interwoven and the very practical exposure that I can gain from the same.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
I see myself as more Competent in various aspects, even professionally and Resourceful.

What led you to OISE?
Foremost a desire to study psychotherapy and counselling in my home city. Additionally, I attended the University of Toronto in 2020-2021 to complete a Master of Arts degree at the Women and Gender Studies Institute. This degree solidified my love for research and learning, but post-graduation I knew that my academic career needed to take a different path. After a couple years working full time as a residence counsellor at a boarding school and doing volunteer work in my community, I decided it was time to start a professional program in counselling and further my career in the mental health field. 

What are you most looking forward to?
Meeting new people, learning new skills, and making new friends! My first master's degree was completely online due to the pandemic, so I am looking forward to being face-to-face with my peers and building community. 

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
Working in my community and/or entering a PhD in counselling psychology. I look forward to continue learning and working with neurodivergent queer and transgender youth and adults, whom I've been working with for the past handful of years.

What led you to OISE?
I've been a secondary school math teacher for nearly a decade. I also got my Master of Mathematics degree at the University of Waterloo. With my teaching experience and content knowledge, I feel passionate about the research to improve students' mathematical thinking abilities.

What are you most looking forward to?
I believe cognitive psychology and teaching strategies are equally important in improving human thinking. For my PhD in APHD, I expect to use mixed method research and the integration of cognitive psychology and mathematics education to investigate 1) how some certain reasoning abilities (i.e., deductive reasoning) develop in students and 2) what innovative strategies may be effective.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
I imagine that I will not only acquire knowledge in the new fields such as cognitive psychology and neuroscience, but also develop scientific research expertise, so that I can do work that makes an impact in mathematics education.

What led you to OISE?
OISE’s strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research and its leading role in developmental psychology perfectly align with my passion for understanding and enhancing educational practices.

What are you most looking forward to?
I am eager to engage in research and collaborate with experts to explore how educational environments impact cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
I see myself as a researcher, and educator, contributing to the academic field and influencing educational policies to support diverse developmental needs.

What led you to OISE?
I wanted a Master's experience that prioritized practical skills and application over research. This is one of the few programs that seemed to offer me freedom throughout my studies in what kinds of therapy application I'd want to pursue.

What are you most looking forward to?
The courses. This is the first time in my education where I've been able to cater all of my academics towards what I'm actually interested in and will actually use.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
I'm hoping to be providing therapy straight after gradutation if not shortly after. There is still freedom as to what populations and techniques I will be focusing on but I'm hoping to be skilled in Trauma-Informed and Emotion-Focused Therapy, particularly for transgender populations.

What led you to OISE?
My pursuit of advanced research in developmental psychology has been a driving force in my academic journey. OISE at U of T caught my attention since the alignment of the program's focus and the possibility of the interdisciplinary approach with my research interests made OISE an ideal choice for me. I believe that the collaborative and creative atmosphere at OISE will be the perfect platform to deepen my expertise and contribute meaningfully to the field.

What are you most looking forward to?
I am particularly excited about the prospect of engaging in dynamic brainstorming moments with peers, faculty members, and mentors from diverse cultural backgrounds. This program's multicultural environment promises a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives that I believe are crucial for broadening my understanding of developmental psychology.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
Upon completing my degree at OISE, I envision myself transitioning into an academic role where I can integrate my research and teaching interests. As a professor, I aim to inspire students with my passion for understanding the complexities of human development and mental health, along with advanced research methods as a tool.

What led you to OISE?
I graduated in 2023 from University of Toronto with a degree in Health Studies with my interests in social studies in general, I knew OISE would be a great fit for my graduate studies.

What are you most looking forward to?
To expand my knowledge and career options.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
I look forward to pursuing a doctoral degree.

What led you to OISE?
The diverse culture, high ranking and brilliant faculty.

What are you most looking forward to?
Learn to love myself as an individual with more developmental psychology knowledge.

Where do you see yourself after you complete your degree?
Working in education field.