Nick Paquette

Amherstburg, Ontario
Graduating with an honours Bachelor of Science in biology, minoring in biochemistry

How did you pick your major of study, and why did you choose the University of Windsor?

I developed a passion for science in high school, with biology being my favourite discipline. Being in science also gave me the opportunity to have a chance of attending a professional school following the completion of my undergraduate degree. I chose the University of Windsor because it was close to home and would give me the opportunity to save some money, as I would still be able to live at home during my undergrad.

What were your expectations of university? Has the University of Windsor met those expectations?

Coming into University, I had expectations that I would finally be on my own in terms of managing my time and schedule and making decisions regarding my education and future and that has definitely been the case. I love the fact that I am in complete control of my education and the effort that I put into my studies. I was also expecting to meet a large variety of different people and become involved in a few different campus activities, and that has occurred as well. The University of Windsor has definitely met the expectations I had coming into University.

What would you say is the most important thing you have learned at university: about yourself, about other people, about your field of study, or about the world?

I would say the most important thing that I learned would be that I am highly capable of motivating myself to accomplish my goals. As I said before, you’re on your own at University and a lot of students aren’t able to keep motivated in their studies for any number of reasons. Setting different goals for myself and working hard to accomplish those goals has shown me that I am highly capable of accomplishing nearly anything I set my mind to. It has also given me confidence to continue on with my goals in other areas of my life (besides my education) and I believe has made me a better person because of that.

What would you say has been the most memorable part of your UWindsor experience?

I believe the most memorable part of my UWindsor experience has been the time I have spent working in Dr. (Lisa) Porter’s lab in the Biology Department. Becoming involved in the research aspect of Biology and taking part in an undergraduate thesis project has given me the opportunity to apply much of the information and many of the techniques I have been studying for the past few years. It has been a very rewarding experience and has given me a greater appreciation for academic research, and has led me to consider graduate studies here at the University as a possible avenue for my future.

Please tell us why you are proud to be part of the University of Windsor’s graduating class of 2011.

I am proud to be part of the graduating class of 2011 because it is a great accomplishment for myself and one step closer to achieving a career that I will hopefully enjoy in my life.

Did you have a course, professor or classmate who inspired you?

Having worked in a research lab and seeing the time and dedication many of my colleagues and fellow students put into their research gave me a lot of inspiration throughout my undergraduate education. In particular, observing the amount of time and effort Dr. Lisa Porter puts into the research projects she is involved in, as well as the fundraising aspects necessary to achieve funding for academic research, has truly been an inspiration for me.

What are your plans following graduation?

Following graduation, I will be attending the Schulich School of Medicine through the University of Western Ontario.