Your Questions Answered: Two Time SUAward Winner Shares How She Made her Mark
Shenin Mehnaj, from Bangladesh, for the second time, is the 2020 award winner for the University of Alberta Students' Union Award: Filistix International Student Excellence Award! She is in her fourth year of an undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Food Science. Shenin is also completing the Certificate in International Learning and the Certificate in Sustainability.
Who or what on campus has made an impact on your UAlberta success?
When I first arrived at UAlberta, I only had $100 in my bank account to spend outside my necessary expenses. I needed online account access for my ECON 101 class, which would cost me $120, and I could not afford it. Our instructor for the course, Professor Alexander Gainer, told us that if anyone was facing difficulty to access the online content, they could reach out to him. I gathered my courage and emailed him explaining my situation and asking if there was a low-cost alternative. Professor Gainer instantly told me not to worry and gave me access to a free account that he managed to get from the website. His generosity and understanding gave me the confidence to approach professors whenever I needed help and taught me the lesson that you only need to ask when you need assistance.
How did you meet your first friend from a different culture than your own?
I met my friend Caleb in my first year at UAlberta, while we were both working in the Student Calling Program (that was also my first job!). Caleb is a Canadian citizen of European descent. He was curious about my faith, Bangladesh (where I am from), and my culture. He would even get books from the library to read about my culture and ask me questions about things he did not understand. His curiosity was really inspiring to me because it was the first time someone from a different culture showed so much interest in my culture. What makes UAlberta an amazing university is its diversity, made up of curious students such as Caleb, who also make it an inclusive space.
How did you overcome any anxiety you had about joining a new group or club?
When I was in high-school back in Bangladesh, I was very involved with a number of student clubs and projects. My friends knew me as someone who loved participating in extra-curricular activities such as performing on stage for cultural events or being the President of the school debate club. Hence, after coming to UAlberta, I was eager to join new clubs and student groups. I never felt anxious because everyone was welcoming, and I was amazed to see the diversity of clubs and opportunities on campus.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
If I picture myself five years from now, it is a bright sunny day, I am sitting in my home office in my apartment in Edmonton, with a warm cup of coffee. I am a mom, and my daughter is playing with her grandma and great-grandma. I am grateful to have a happy family with my daughter, my mom and my husband. I recently graduated with a Public Health Masters degree, and I am working for an organization that positively impacts peoples’ lives. In my position, I want to inspire people to lead a healthy life. I love travelling and going to new places to discover new cultures and history. In the afternoon, I plan our next trip with my family; perhaps our next destination will be Cuba, Mexico or Switzerland!
Who are three of your heroes (living or historical) and why?
The people I look up to the most are my mom and my maternal grandma. They taught me the meaning of hard work, patience and resilience. Being a single mother in Bangladesh wasn’t easy for my mom, yet she pursued her education and career, all the while taking care of her children and giving us the best education she could, with the help of her mother. They taught me about the importance of education and how it empowers someone to be self-resilient.
Another person that inspires me is Princess Diana. She was a graceful lady who cared for people and dedicated her life, working for social causes. I particularly remember one instance when she shook hands with someone with HIV AIDS that captured the world’s attention and helped curb the stigma around AIDS patients in the 1980s when people with AIDS still faced a lot of social stigmas. She also raised awareness and advocated ways to help people affected by cancer and mental illness. She had a positive impact on me, especially her courage to walk out of a relationship that was not working, despite being a member of the Royal family. I want to be a strong role model like her!
Finally, one fictional character from childhood that inspired me was Jerry (from Tom & Jerry). I loved watching how Jerry always kept up with all of Tom’s shenanigans. He was full of life and energy. Even though he is small in size, he has a larger than life character. I aspire to have a similar positive attitude towards life’s obstacles and live with a smile on my face!
What’s your next goal while at UAlberta?
To be frank, I am looking forward to graduating this summer! But before that, I want to successfully present my final projects on sustainability and international learning for the two certificates I am pursuing right now. I also want to do a capstone project focused on food product development in my final semester at UAlberta. Through all these endeavours, I want to leave my mark on campus as a role model for other students who also want to get involved and contribute to the community.