Convocation Spotlight: MScOT graduate Christine Wagner

When Christine Wagner began her master’s in occupational therapy, she knew relatively little about the profession, other than its vast scope. But the new MSc graduate quickly fell in love with the complexity and connections involved in the work, as well as its roots in social justice.

We asked Wagner to tell us more about her experience at the University of Alberta and her plans for the future.

What are you most proud of from your time in the program?

Being part of a wonderful team presenting at the (virtual) Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries in Prague in 2021 was definitely a memorable experience, as well as my biggest challenge. I shared a presentation I created two years prior. It was a full-circle moment for me. It started with my anxiety spiralling during the first semester of the program, when I found out I’d be giving an hour-long presentation. But my passion for the topic eventually became much greater than the anxiety, and it ended up being a memorable experience for me, and I hope for my peers, too. 

What lessons will you take from pursuing a degree during the pandemic?

In some ways, I am still grieving the loss of the "normal" grad-student experience of two full years in Corbett Hall that I signed up for. Online learning eliminates a lot of the spontaneity and informal interactions that support connecting with peers and faculty. However, our cohort found new ways to connect and continued to grow together in an online space. I know I appreciate those seemingly insignificant in-person interactions much more than before the pandemic. I hold these memories a little closer now as they are not infinite. 

What comes next for you in your career?

I am currently in the uncomfortable and exciting process of searching for a new position, and hoping to land (this time or eventually!) in the community with a focus on mental health. 

What advice would you give to a student thinking of entering graduate studies?

Try to hold your connections — to knowledge, ideas, interests, and plans of where you'll be/go — very lightly, and be open to letting go of some of them and forming new ones. The best learning is unexpected. It happens when we're open to possibilities and are willing to “go there” together.