Graduate Spotlight: Sugandha Chandak

Why I chose Western

The beauty of the campus was definitely one of the first things that attracted me to Western. I also really liked that the Health Sciences program combined both health and social sciences, which was exactly what I was looking for. On top of that, I had heard many positive things about Western before coming here.

Highlights of my Western experience

A huge part of my experience at Western was becoming involved with Global Café. When I first moved from India to Canada, I felt very lonely and didn’t really know anyone. Joining Global Café completely changed that for me. I made so many meaningful friendships and connections there, and many of those friendships are still a big part of my life today.

My Western experience has honestly felt like a roller coaster ride with both highs and lows. There were exciting moments, but also difficult and lonely times that came with being far away from home. At the same time, Western became like a family for me because of the friendships and community I found here.

Favourite memories of my time at Western

My favourite memories are definitely all the time I spent at Global Café, especially during first year. I loved all the activities, conversations and experiences I shared with the friends I met there. It really helped me feel connected and at home during such a big transition in my life.

Another unforgettable part of my Western experience was meeting my boyfriend here. It was something I never saw coming, but it became one of the most meaningful connections and memories I’ll carry with me from my time at Western!

An accomplishment I'm especially proud of

One accomplishment I’m especially proud of is my undergraduate research experience during third year. I received an undergraduate research scholarship, and through that experience I was able to contribute to two publications, which was incredibly rewarding.

More than anything though, I’m proud of the person I’ve become over these four years and all the growth I experienced along the way.

My plans for the future

After graduation, I’m hoping to take a trip to the Dominican Republic as a way to celebrate finishing my degree and everything I accomplished during university.

In the future, I hope to work in the non-clinical side of health care, potentially in areas like health care consulting. I’d love to continue building on the knowledge and experiences I gained during my degree and apply them in meaningful ways.

A fun fact about me

A fun fact about me is that I’m really interested in modelling and photoshoots. I haven’t explored it fully yet, but it’s something I’d really love to pursue more in the future.

My advice for new students

If I could talk to my first-year self, I would tell her not to be so scared. Everything feels overwhelming at first, especially when you’re moving to a new country and adjusting to a completely different environment, but it really does get better over time. Keep going, trust yourself and eventually you’ll be proud of how much you’ve grown and everything you accomplished along the way.