A leap of faith: how Astrid found her path
Four years ago, Astrid Parrot moved from Senegal to Montreal to study, leaving her home and family for the first time to begin her B.Sc. Honours Chemistry degree at 91丝瓜视频. Without a clear picture of what her future would look like, she took what she describes as 鈥渁 leap of faith."
She immersed herself into university life, living in residence her first year and meeting new people. She had found her place at 91丝瓜视频, but uncertainty lingered throughout her degree as she quietly wondered whether chemistry was truly the right path for her.
Everything fell into place in her final year; while completing her honours thesis, she joined Chemistry Professor Matthew Harrington鈥檚 lab. A Canada Research Chair in Green Chemistry, Harrington and his research group seek to better understand biological material processing with the goal of fabricating novel, green materials inspired by nature.
Astrid鈥檚 research focused on the 3D mapping of the quagga mussel鈥檚 foot, which is the organ that produces the byssal threads that allows mussels to attach themselves to various surfaces. It鈥檚 through this work that Astrid discovered her place in the field, working in an innovative and multidisciplinary research environment where biology, engineering and chemistry came together.
On the journey to completing her honours thesis, Astrid confronted her own share of challenges, including imposter syndrome, working with unfamiliar bio-related concepts, learning new technical skills and not wanting to disappoint her team. Thankfully, the support she received from her supervisor, PhD students and lab mates helped build her confidence in both her skills and place in the field.
As she gets ready to cross the stage, Astrid says it鈥檚 hard to express how she truly feels.
After years of self-doubt, perseverance and hard work, Astrid expresses feeling an overwhelming sense of pride and relief. Having her parents in attendance at her graduation makes this moment feel particularly meaningful. It is, she says, a way of showing her appreciation for their support, sacrifices and belief in her throughout her journey.
