Program: Master of Science in Audiology
I had an affinity for hearing and balance subjects throughout my undergraduate studies. Before I learned about audiology, I was pursuing neuroscience research through an auditory brainstem lab. I loved the content but didn’t like the idea of working in a lab as a full-time career. When I found out about audiology in my third year, I switched gears and took as many hearing and linguistics-related courses to prepare for the audiology program. I love that the field of audiology has many career path options, as well as room for research in the future.
My favourite moment would have to be our conference trip to Halifax, N.S. It was a wonderful experience to be able to learn and share as a class. We were also able to travel around the East Coast as well – not many people get to say they’ve been coast to coast in Canada!
The audiology field is small and close knit so don’t be afraid to reach out to your classmates in and outside of class for help and support. Two years whizzes past you quickly, so take in every moment and try to enjoy it despite the stress.
I think COVID-19 has pushed us to further think about accessibility in our community. With various restrictions forcing people to stay at home, services have moved online to accommodate these restrictions. I hope to see telehealth and other virtual services become a common alternative for those unable to attend in person. I also hope current COVID-19 restrictions will prompt establishments to incorporate more permanent accommodations to their physical spaces. These changes not only benefit the lowering of COVID-19 transmission rates, but they will also help populations with accessibility needs long after the pandemic is resolved.