Tarannum (Tara) Syed

Bagnani Medal Winner

Toronto, ON

Biology

What does winning the Bagnani Medal mean to you?
It is simply icing on the cake. I am so appreciative and honoured to have been chosen. Before being notified I had won, I already felt the countless late night adventures, laborious hours, time spent locked up in my room studying, and the tears of joy and disappointment were worth it because I got the one thing that I really wanted out of it all - a superior knowledge-base. Being recognized by Trent for my hard work makes me feel very encouraged and validated. It is the absolute best end to this chapter of my life.

What are your future goals?
Next year I am embarking on international volunteer work, a goal I have had for myself since my first year at Trent. I am also currently applying to medical schools and hope to become a physician.

Why did you choose Trent?
I wanted to come to a university that was truly concerned about the learning of its undergraduate students and I wanted to be challenged to think creatively and outside the box. And yes, it is possible to do that, even in science! Receiving the Champlain Scholarship, a major scholarship and big bonus, also made my decision easy.

What is the best thing about studying at Trent?
The best thing about studying at Trent was making some amazing friends, who I am confident will remain in my life for years to come. At Trent there is an atmosphere of camaraderie, with students encouraging each other to overcome obstacles and achieve their best. I think the best part about university was getting a glimpse into what the real world is like and figuring out who I am, who I am not, what I want from life, and the kinds of people I want in my life. At Trent I’ve learned that the most important choice one can make is to actively strive to surround oneself with positive energy and to always advocate for oneself.

Volunteer work:
I have been volunteering and working in youth services since I was 15 years old. I developed an early passion for this kind of work while working with the Regional Multicultural Youth Centre (RMYC) in Thunder Bay. By age 16 I was the President of RMYC, leading the development of a breakfast club, a peer-mentoring program, and a life-skills program for young women called ‘Revolution Girl-Style’. More recently, I have become very passionate about improving mental health services for youth. There is a real need in mental health agencies to include youth in decision-making processes about the delivery of services. I am currently the young adult team leader on a project called Mobilizing Minds, which aims to develop evidence-based mental health resources and decision-making aids for young adults (and those who support them) that will increase young adults’ mental health literacy, help-seeking intentions, and movement along the help-seeking pathway from problem identification to the use of the best-suited treatment options available.

Interests and passions:
Some of my passions include youth engagement and improving the lives of at-risk youth, as reflecting in my volunteer work. Over the last two years I have become really interested in formulating my own skin and hair care products. When I’m not studying somewhere with a biology textbook in hand, or advocating for youth, I am always creating a new product! Although some of my friends and my family have mentioned I should try making this into a business, I prefer to keep it as a hobby, at least for now. It gives me a great way to unwind, relax and make use of a more creative side of my brain. I also love playing my clarinet and jammin’ with some of my friends who also play instruments. I also love dance and have been dancing ballet, jazz and hip-hop since I was seven.

Extracurricular activities:
Trent Undergraduate Studies Committee student representative Otonabee College Cabinet junior senator