Graduate Spotlight: Natalia Kanok
Natalia Kanok, BHSc’25
Home Country and City
Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Involvement with Western International
Education Abroad Participant
Why I chose Western
I decided to come to Western back when I was in grade six! I saw photos of the campus online and immediately felt it was the right place for me—and it really lived up to that impression.
How I would describe my overall Western Experience
The three words I would use to describe my experience are fun, loving, fulfilling. Western has such a social and vibrant atmosphere—it’s easy to make friends and feel part of something bigger. There’s so much love on campus, from the people to the community vibe. And overall, the experience has just filled my heart. It’s been truly amazing.
A favourite memory of my time at Western
One of my favourite memories is going on vacation to the Caribbean with friends I met at Western. Without this university, I wouldn’t have had that experience or those friendships. I also loved going sledding down UC Hill, living with my best friends (and our dog Skye!), and attending the Reklaws concert in second year.
An accomplishment I’m especially proud of
I’m proud to have earned the Global and Intercultural Engagement Honour through Western International. It involved taking courses like Spanish, doing an international exchange to Australia, and learning from culturally diverse experiences.
A fun fact about you
I went on 27 flights last year! My longest one was 15 hours from Vancouver to Brisbane.
My plans for after graduation
I’ll be travelling through Europe for a month and a half—hiking, swimming, exploring. After that, I’ll be back in time for graduation in June. In the next five years, I hope to be working in the health sector, maybe with a few more languages under my belt, and continuing to travel and grow through cultural experiences. I’m also thinking about applying to a master’s program.
My advice to new students
Western gave me so much: lifelong friends, unforgettable adventures, and countless core memories—from silent dinners and campfires to emotional study sessions in Weldon. To incoming students, my advice is: don’t say no. Try everything. Step outside your comfort zone. The best experiences come when you do.
