The 2024 Loran scholars have been announced, and YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Kira Young is among the recipients of the coveted award.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was a bit of a surprise when I got the call,SA国际影视传媒� the 17-year-old said soon after her scholarship was announced. SA国际影视传媒淚 feel like I havenSA国际影视传媒檛 even totally processed it yet, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 a huge, huge honour.SA国际影视传媒�
Recipients of Loran scholarships benefit from SA国际影视传媒渁 four-year, comprehensive leadership-enrichment program, financial support, and a network of values-driven peers and mentors,SA国际影视传媒� according to a news release.
While grades are a factor in deciding which young people receive scholarships, the Loran Scholars Foundation states its aim as to SA国际影视传媒渓ook beyond marks to identify students with a guiding sense of purpose: those who demonstrate exceptional strength of character, a deep commitment to service, and the potential to lead with integrity.SA国际影视传媒�
Young, who was among more than 5,000 applicants from across the country, was selected in large part due to her busy extracurricular schedule, much of which relates to climate advocacy.
She has conducted presentations on last summerSA国际影视传媒檚 wildfires and their devastating affect on the NWT, and also wrote educational articles about the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 ecosystems during an internship with a climate-focused organization, among other things.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 my generation that is going to see a lot of the drastic global impacts of climate change,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚n particular in the North, which is my home, the impact of climate change, as you saw this summer with the wildfires, are just so exacerbated.
SA国际影视传媒淚 feel like itSA国际影视传媒檚 in large part my responsibility to use the resources that I have to try and make a difference and try to work towards effective climate action.SA国际影视传媒�
It will soon be time for Young to head off to university. She is SA国际影视传媒渁 little undecidedSA国际影视传媒� on which school to attend, but has narrowed it down to the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, and Hamilton, OntarioSA国际影视传媒檚 McMaster University.
In terms of her course of studies, she is also undecided, but doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 see anything wrong with that.
SA国际影视传媒淢y plan now is to try to be as interdisciplinary as I can, at least for the first year of my undergrad, if not the whole degree,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎t McMaster, I am considering doing an arts and science degree, and at UBC, I would be considering doing some sort of a broader, less specific first year program, but perhaps from my whole degree so that I donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to specialize and I can keep my options open.SA国际影视传媒�
After her undergrad, she intends to pursue a masterSA国际影视传媒檚 degree and PhD.
Further down the road, she is considering a career in medicine, having been recently diagnosed with an autoinflammatory disease.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e learned a lot through this experience, and one of the big takeaways ISA国际影视传媒檝e had is that medicine, and immunology and rheumatology in particular, are very emerging,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of very novel concepts, a lot of unknowns, and as a person who is really impacted by these unknowns, and super curious about all these big question marks, I am interested in how I can make an impact on other people who are living with diseases like these that arenSA国际影视传媒檛 super well understood.SA国际影视传媒�
Young credits YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Justina Marianayagam, who received a Loran scholarship in 2014, as one of her main mentors.
Having now received the award herself, she recognizes that she could become a source of inspiration for other young people in the North, and is happy to fill that role.
SA国际影视传媒淎s young people from the North, I really do believe that we all have very important experiences and stories to share,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 think the most important thing is to pursue what you really care about. DonSA国际影视传媒檛 try to fit into whatever check boxes you think Loran or any other scholarship wants to see. YouSA国际影视传媒檒l have the biggest impact and youSA国际影视传媒檒l have the greatest success if youSA国际影视传媒檙e pursuing what you really care about.SA国际影视传媒�
