Scholar Stories

“Along my journey, I have been afforded the opportunity to meet many fantastic individuals – scholars and supporters – who share the values of a Canada where the youth are trailblazers of change. From submitting my Loran application to today, I have blossomed knowing that I have the potential to create change, and that I am supported by a community of individuals who will help me unleash every bit of it.”

“For my community development summer, I worked with No Name Kitchen, helping migrants living in a camp on the French-Italian border. These experiences taught me to be an attentive, vigilant, and flexible leader. Although the logistics surrounding my summer experience were atypical and complex, the Loran program offered dedicated support and an incredible opportunity that was crucial for my journey and my heart.”

“I spent my enterprise summer at Amazon developing and streamlining software systems. Beyond the code, I volunteered through Amazon’s Black Employee Network and Women in Engineering, participating in initiatives like shoreline cleanups and supporting the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. I was initially concerned about making a meaningful impact and staying true to my service-focused values at such a large company, but I found many ways to do both. This experience showed me that technology and community care can go hand in hand. Loran gave me the confidence to show up fully in both spaces—as an engineer, a volunteer, and a growing leader.”

“During my public policy summer at Women’s Shelters Canada, I conducted in-depth research on gender-based violence (GBV) across Canada. It was my first time living out of province, and I would not have taken that leap out of my comfort zone without Loran’s support and encouragement. The experience was transformative; contributing to work with real-world implications—used by shelters and activists on the ground—was incredibly meaningful and reaffirmed my belief in research as a powerful tool for change. It also helped me realize that GBV is the field in which I hope to build my career.”

“I have many areas of focus, from renewable energy and sustainable materials to youth mental health and education, and Loran encourages me to remain curious and pursue the unconventional. Being part of such a large network of people who want to see each other succeed gives me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and take risks I might not take otherwise. Opportunities for reciprocity and reflection—whether at Retreat or during meetings with my mentor—have helped me to stay accountable to my values while opening my mind to the different ways we can all create change in our communities.”

“Loran has pushed me to explore the why behind what I do and helped me realize what my values actually are. Without Loran, I would not have discovered my passion for building communities, or that building communities is the real reason I aspire to be a civil engineer. I feel like the biggest difference I can make is inspiring people to want to be part of a community. To see people smiling and happy to be there, that is what I think makes the largest impact. Helping people find their communities makes me feel like I am fulfilling my purpose in life.”

“Loran has provided me with all the resources I need to succeed in my post-secondary education as well as in life. From incredible mentorship to strong institutional connections, from fellow scholars to Loran staff, the program has a phenomenal support system. Having this in place allowed me to discover that I can make the greatest impact by combining my passions with meaningful activities that contribute to my community, like promoting the Canadian Cancer Society through hockey-based events. Participating in these activities provides challenges that can’t be found in the classroom and makes me feel connected to my community away from home.”

“Although the educational path for health students can seem linear, Loran challenges me to pursue interests that broaden my perspective and drive me to take meaningful risks to achieve my professional and personal goals. Within my community, I volunteer as director for the SPRING initiative in Halifax, overseeing a team of people working to pair children in the community who have accessibility needs with students to participate in weekly, extracurricular activities on campus. And I’m also working with the IWK Health, a women’s and children’s hospital and trauma centre, to improve programming for children in long-term care. These experiences have helped me develop in my respiratory clinical practice, and as I continue to pursue my medical career I will prioritize a well-rounded approach to patient care.”

“The financial support Loran provides for academic endeavours has empowered me to explore courses I might have otherwise hesitated to pursue, such as creative writing. I’ve always loved storytelling, and developing my writing structurally has given me the confidence to perform poetry at open mics—a welcome next step—where I’ve been able to connect deeply with diverse audiences. These shared moments and invigorating experiences have enriched my undergraduate journey in unexpected and rewarding ways. Additionally, through the Loran program I’ve met a vibrant network of brilliant, driven people who continually inspire and challenge me to dream bigger. Loran alumni in particular have been one of the most quietly powerful aspects of the program. They constantly remind me that our stories aren’t linear and encourage me to pursue my potential with intention and curiosity.”

“I want to help build bridges between cultures and generations in a world where divides are growing. The Loran Award allows me to cultivate this vision by exposing me to committed leaders, inspiring mentors, and real-life experiences, where I am able to embody my values ​​and live them with pride. Intercultural and intergenerational inclusion has been a lifelong commitment for me. With this in mind, my first Loran summer experience was a three-month community internship in Guatemala, where I provided psychosocial support and helped distribute essential donations to families living in precarious situations. Loran has also given me the confidence to find my voice and assert my beliefs. Now studying occupational therapy, my approach focuses on developing the caregiver-patient relationship and the adaptation of daily activities in a way that promotes autonomy and social participation.”

“Loran has played a unique role in my life—supporting me through the challenges of the transition to university and also pushing me to be the best community member I can be. The program has unequivocally changed the trajectory of my life; if not in terms of my career path, in terms of the way I see the world and engage with the people around me. I feel like I’m making the biggest difference in my community when I’m engaging in work for kids with arthritis. Whether I am volunteering at camp with or doing research at a computer, it is an incredibly fulfilling privilege to use my lived experience with arthritis to play a role in the lives of the next generation of kids with this disease. The forward-thinking and optimistic energy of the Loran community inspires me to be a more curious, action-oriented, and compassionate person.”

“The Loran community has quietly but powerfully shaped the way I view myself and the kind of leader I can be. Surrounded by such an amazing cohort of people who are pushing boundaries and doing incredible things in their own communities, I’m constantly inspired to do better and stay true to our shared values of service, leadership, and community. Even when we’re busy with school or navigating the chaos of life, those values shine through in the ways we show up, whether that be for each other, for the people around us, or for the things we care about. Being part of this network has helped me grow more confident in my decisions, more intentional with my time, and more grounded in purpose. It’s not always something you can see on paper, but I feel it in the way I approach new opportunities, take initiative even when it feels uncertain, and trust myself to lead with heart.”

“Loran summer experiences have allowed me to explore fields beyond my degree—providing opportunities to learn broadly and practically outside of the classroom. Working as a polar bear educator and a researcher in gender-based violence speaks to the breadth of experience Loran encourages. I’ve developed new passions, learned how to advocate for diverse communities, and become an effective science communicator. More broadly, what makes Loran special is the family of scholars: a group of authentic, diverse, and motivated people who lead by uplifting each other. In every interaction I’ve had with a member of the Loran community, I’ve left feeling inspired and driven to make change.”