Reanna George: Embracing Opportunity and Overcoming Challenges in Higher Education

It was an honor to be chosen as one of the recipients of the Indspire and IPIC scholarship for fall 2023. I have recently finished my undergraduate degree in June 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in science with a major in psychology (honors) at Memorial University of Newfoundland. This fall I am starting my master’s degree in experimental psychology with a focus in health and wellness.

I graduated high school in June of 2020. It was not an easy time to finish high school let alone also make the transition to university. This transition is usually challenging for most, but I think that people making that transition during a pandemic faced another set of challenges during this time. From the constant change of having to isolate and online line classes, and then hybrid online-in person model, and then lock down again, and then in person again I will be the first to admit that the first two years of my degree in the pandemic was tough. On top of these unprecedented circumstances, I also, like many of my peers faced various other personal challenges outside of school and the pandemic. Which is why I am grateful for being chosen as a recipient of this scholarship as such opportunities reduces financial related stress and allowed for me to focus on school and other things that I love to do. I love school, therefore having the freedom to focus on my education is very important to me. People often joke that I will never leave school because of my love to learn.

Throughout my degree, this scholarship allowed me to be involved in volunteer opportunities at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and my community. My favorite volunteer opportunity that I’ve had was at Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Riding Center. At Rainbow Riders I started as a barn volunteer, now I am a staff member there and I have recently become a junior instructor. Having the financial burden that is come with pursing a post-secondary education decreased along with the associated stress, also allowed me to have more time to enjoy my other passions such as riding horses, going for walks, and enjoying a good book.

Now that I have finished my undergraduate degree, and I am excited to start my master’s journey. I am aiming to continue my studies even further and I hope to apply to clinical psychology doctoral program after my masters. It has always been a dream of mine since I was very young to complete multiple degrees and work in a career that I get to make a positive difference in people lives and thanks to opportunities like this scholarship, I am well on my way to making those dreams come true.

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