Graduate Spotlight: Claire Hoppa

Why I chose Western

I was looking for an opportunity to try something new and experience living in another country. My now-husband is a dual citizen and has family in Ontario, so Canada already had a connection for me.

Western gave me the chance to start something fresh and push myself outside of my comfort zone. I was also drawn to the program’s focus on research, collaboration and community involvement, as well as the opportunity to learn through Western’s speech and hearing clinic.

How I would describe my Western experience

I loved my experience at Western. During my undergraduate degree, I sometimes had a hard time making friends and feeling like I was part of my cohort, but when I came to Western, I felt valued and encouraged to connect with others.

I was also excited by how much my program prioritized research, collaboration and community involvement. Moving from rural Wyoming to a city was very new for me, but London felt manageable. Being able to use public transit and navigate the city on my own was exciting and helped me become comfortable in a completely new environment.

What inspired me to pursue speech-language pathology

When I was 16, my first job was as a respite care worker for a therapy group. I worked with children during recreational time between their different therapies and had the opportunity to help them work toward some of their goals.

I became really interested in therapy and working with children with disabilities. I was enjoying what I was doing, so I thought, why would I divert from something I already know I care about? I went all in, and it’s working out.

An important part of my international student experience

Navigating immigration was definitely stressful because there can be so much uncertainty around timelines and changing policies. As I got closer to starting my job, I connected regularly with International Student Services to make sure I had everything in order.

Sometimes I just needed someone to confirm that everything looked right and that things were going to work out. Having that reassurance was really valuable.

My plans for after graduation

I recently received permanent residency and I’m starting my career as a speech-language pathologist with Thames Valley Children’s Centre in Owen Sound.

I’ll be working primarily with preschool-aged children, providing speech and language assessment and intervention services and working with families and others in the community. It’s a great starting point for me because I’ve worked with children for most of my life, but I haven’t specifically focused on this younger age group before.

One of the things I love about speech-language pathology is how many different directions the profession can take you. I’m also interested in adult care and cognitive communication, so that may be something I explore in the future.

What I’m looking forward to

I’m excited to work with my community. As an international student, I’ve completed placements and gained experience, but now I’ll have my own clients and the opportunity to build relationships with the people and families I work with. I think that’s going to be really rewarding.

I also love that learning in this profession is lifelong. It doesn’t stop once I graduate. There is so much to learn, so much to know and always something I can get better at.

A fun fact about me

I’m six-foot-three — and I was already six feet tall in fifth grade!

My advice to other international students

If you’re planning to move to Canada, get familiar with the immigration pathways and timelines before you arrive. Knowing your options and understanding how they apply to your situation can make navigating the process easier.

More broadly, if there’s something you really want, go for it. I remember when Canada was something I wanted so badly, and now I’m here. I’m a big believer in chasing your dreams and working hard for the things you want to achieve.