Congrats on your graduation! We’d love to hear about a pivotal moment or experience that inspired your passion for Biochemistry.

Thank you for your congratulations! I would say that throughout my life, I’ve always had a strong interest in science and learning. In high school, I studied chemistry, where I was fascinated to learn about how the properties and interactions of tiny molecules could explain everything we see in the world. My interest focused on a more health science/biological aspect of chemistry when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I found myself wanting to understand the molecular details and mechanisms of life, and this led me to pursue a degree in Biochemistry at the University of Manitoba.

Thank you so much for sharing that with us. Were there other challenges during your academic journey? How did you overcome them?

The COVID-19 pandemic was definitely the largest obstacle I faced during my academic journey. It was an extremely stressful time for everyone, and at times I felt very unmotivated to study. For me, my friends and family helped me to overcome this through their support – I found that even studying with someone silently over Zoom really helped me focus and not feel quite as isolated.

Sara Crooks

With lots of resources at UM, which ones, such as laboratories, libraries or specialized equipment, have been particularly beneficial to your learning and growth?

During my years at UM that were not spent online, I think I spent nearly every single day in the Science and Technology Library. It was a great place to study, whether it be with friends on the bottom floor, or cramming for exams by myself on the highest floor. It was extremely beneficial to me to always have a place I knew I could go to focus, and its close proximity to a source of coffee was definitely a plus as well!

Can you highlight any professors who have had a significant impact on your academic journey and your university experience?

I feel like most of my professors had some impact on my journey since they taught the courses that made me passionate about science and biochemistry. Dr. Sean McKenna taught me Biochemistry 1, which is what originally got me interested in the field, and in my last year, we also had a few conversations where he gave me some great advice. And of course, I’m also extremely grateful for Dr. Mark Nachtigal, who introduced me to the world of cancer research this summer and has been a great mentor to me.

Have you had the opportunity to collaborate with students or researchers from other science disciplines? How did this interdisciplinary experience influence your understanding of Biochemistry?

Through my time as a Co-op student, I had the opportunity to work in an industry position at PTI Transformers for 8 months in the R & D Department. This was definitely the highlight of my degree. It taught me the fundamentals of how the research process works and made me excited to explore more research opportunities in the future. Although it wasn’t in the field of biochemistry, I was still able to learn a lot of skills and lessons that are applicable to my field, and I feel like the unique perspective I gained from working in a different discipline will only benefit me in the future.

As you start the next phase of your journey, what advice would you give to incoming students at the Faculty of Science?

The advice I would give to new students would be that you don’t have to have it all figured out within your first year. If you don’t know what you’re majoring in right away, that’s OK! Take a few classes that sound interesting, and don’t put pressure on yourself to rush through your degree as fast as you can. I would also really recommend doing things outside of the classroom, like summer research, or applying for the Co-op program. These experiences were not only extremely fun and interesting, but they also helped motivate me to study for my classes, since they put what I was learning in the classroom into perspective.

Congratulations on your graduation! Could you share a pivotal moment or experience that inspired your passion for your field of study? 

There have been so many experiences throughout my undergrad that have inspired my passion for statistics. The combination of wonderful, caring professors, welcoming classmates, becoming a teaching assistant, mentoring younger students, and enjoying the learning process have all shaped me as a student and inspired my passion. 

Which resources, such as laboratories, libraries or specialized equipment, have been particularly beneficial to your learning and growth?

I often found myself studying on the 4th floor of the science library. This quiet space made it easy for me to stay focused. 

Professors play a crucial role in students’ academic development. Can you highlight any professors who have had a significant impact on your journey?  

Dr. Leblanc has been an incredible mentor for me throughout my undergrad. He was always willing to help me understand concepts and played a huge role in helping me figure out that statistics was my passion. I am so thankful for everything Dr. Leblanc has done for me thus far and I am very excited to continue studying with his guidance for my Masters’s degree.

Darby Goodall 2023 Faculty of Science alumni in Statistics

Have you been involved in any science-related or University-related clubs? If so, how have those experiences impacted your time at the University as a student?

I was a member of the University of Manitoba track and field team throughout my undergrad. Being a part of this team gave me a support system of like-minded people who could help me balance the stress of school and competing on the track. The Bison track and field program has shaped me into the individual I am today, and I will forever be grateful to all the people who make that program possible.

Can you discuss any specific challenges you faced during your academic journey and how you overcame them?

When I started university, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study so I got direct entry into science and took a variety of classes. It took me a while to figure out what to study, which was really challenging since many people I knew seemed to have everything figured out. Eventually, I realized that I was most interested in my statistics classes and that’s how I settled on my degree.

Have you had the opportunity to collaborate with students or researchers from other science disciplines? How has this interdisciplinary experience influenced your understanding of your field?

I took a few computer science courses which gave me some much-needed experience with coding and allowed me to interact with professors and students from that department. This experience helped me better understand the amount of detail and effort that goes into computer programs.

As you prepare to embark on the next phase of your journey, what advice would you give to incoming students at the Faculty of Science?

The biggest thing I would say to new students is that it’s okay to not know what you want to do. Explore and try to find something that you are passionate about even if it’s something different from your friends or different from what you originally thought you would study.