Convocation Spotlight: Canyon Desjarlais
27 November 2024
Canyon Desjarlais shares how learning to be fully present in the moment and to trust in her own abilities helped her succeed in her speech-language pathology program.
Did you receive any financial awards throughout your studies?
I was fortunate to receive both the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) Indigenous and the Honoring Our Grandmothers Indigenous Graduate Award in Rehabilitation Medicine. These scholarships made a huge difference financially, allowing me to dedicate more time and energy to succeeding in my academics.
Did you participate in any extra-curricular activities? What did they teach you about yourself?
While attending the U of A, some of my classmates introduced me to bouldering, and I quickly fell in love with the sport. What draws me to bouldering is that it requires you to be fully present in the moment, and to trust in your own abilities. Reflecting on my grad school experience, I realize this was the same mindset I would remind myself of during the late hours of studying for exams.
Editor’s note: Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses.
What comes next for you?
Currently, I am working as a registered speech-language pathologist in the beautiful province of British Columbia at a private practice called Honeybee Pediatric Therapy!