Hi there! My name’s Allan and thanks for visiting my website!

Before I started my journey at U of T, I was fortunate to have been accepted into the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program to complete during high school. At the time, I was seeking opportunities to grow in all aspects of my life and the IB Program seemed to offer that. Their focus on keeping tabs on your activities pertaining to creativity/arts, activity, and service allowed me to understand how important these other pursuits are in maintaining my overall wellbeing. It’s what solidified my exercise routine, created an outlet through music, and inspired me to continue volunteering in any way I can in my community. It was when I dedicated time towards these other key aspects of my life when my performance academically soared beyond my expectations.

Once I graduated from high school and came to U of T, I continued to find ways to improve myself. I understood that tuition and other expenses may present some new challenges. I did not want to be completely financially illiterate after completing my undergraduate studies and I also wanted to practice my communication skills. This inspired me to accept a role at TD Canada Trust. I understood that it was outside of my area of study since I was at U of T for Life Sciences, but this push beyond my comfort zone has been extremely rewarding. The opportunities to learn more about the financial world and practicing my communication skills with clients have been valuable in my everyday life.

I’ve continued to volunteer and be involved on campus as a Peer Mentor for incoming first-year students because I remember my confusion and fears when I first arrived at U of T. With my monthly meetings with first-year students, I was able to direct them to any relevant resources and services that would be helpful. I’ve learned that mentorship is a two-way street and my interactions with my peers about our experiences have reminded me that there is always something to learn from anyone I interact with.

As I continue through my studies at U of T, I’ve made a note to always remember to be open to any new experiences and continuously improve myself. This included critically assessing my study habits to resolve what strategies were no longer working. I also added the Buddhist, Psychology, and Mental Health minor to my studies to also learn about different practices such as meditation and topics within gender and psychology to complement my Life Science knowledge. I am super excited for what the rest of my academic career has in store!