Graduating twins prepare for careers in health, medicine after Mount Allison
2013-05-08 09:43:13
Paras and Palak Satija, twin siblings originally from India, will cross the stage to receive their honours chemistry degrees during Mount Allison University’s 2013 Convocation ceremonies on May 13. With sights set on graduate and medical school, the pair has worked to prepare for this next step during their time at Mount Allison, in and outside the classroom.
The Satijas moved to Canada at the age of 11 and attended high school in Campbellton, NB before heading to Mount Allison in 2009. The family has since relocated to Calgary but still holds a connection to the East Coast. “We wanted to go to university together and liked the idea of smaller classes, research and the extracurricular opportunities that Mount Allison offered, not too far from home,” says Paras.
Both Palak and Paras are regular faces on campus, working as chemistry research assistants since their first year and both serving on the executive for Global Brigades Mount Allison — which sees more than 100 people, including students and medical professionals, travel to Honduras over spring break each year. The team has provided medical and dental care, access to clean water and latrines, and worked on other community improvement projects for the past five years.
Palak notes that her involvement with Global Brigades was a turning point in her education.
“After travelling to Honduras in my first and second year, I decided I wanted to learn Spanish. I took classes at Mount Allison and did an exchange program in Spain my third year. My last Global Brigade trip this year was a totally different experience as I was able to work as a translator. Global Brigades really influenced my decision to continue my education with a master’s in global health and one day medicine.”
She also worked as an athletic therapist for several Mountie sports teams and served as chair of the award-winning 2012 Shinerama team at Mount Allison. Because of this accomplishment, Palak has been selected by the national Shinerama organization to be a campaign advisor, and will work with six universities across Canada to help them make their own Shinerama campaigns a success.
Paras says Global Brigades was also a big influence in his path, having served as president of the group this past year. Paras, who has been accepted to medical school, also plans to work in health.
He says, “Global Brigades really shaped my Mount Allison career. I travelled with the Brigades all four years and each experience was totally different, with the initial culture shock and then seeing it through other people’s experiences as part of the executive. It really makes you feel like you have achieved something.”
He was also involved with Leadership Mount Allison, the Mount Allison Students Union, serving as science senator, and as co-president of Campbell Hall.
The siblings both say Mount Allison helped prepare them for what’s next. Palak says, “It sounds cliché but it was a good experience for us. My time at Mount A really helped shape me as an individual and laid the foundation for the future.”
Photo caption: Paras and Palak Satija are both graduating with Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry from Mount Allison University on May 13 (Ian Chew photography)