Congratulations, Samin Barakati, TMU Gold Medal and Dennis Mock Leadership Award Recipient!

When nursing student Samin Barakati first immigrated to Canada, struggles abounded: English language proficiency, doubts about fitting in, balancing acts with mental health. 

Little by little, she progressed through her undergraduate studies, eventually reaching — and even far exceeding — her own expectations. Recently, she walked the convocation stage to receive the university’s highest honour, the Gold Medal Award. 

She also recently received the university’s Dennis Mock Student Leadership Award for her outstanding example in mental health advocacy, including contributions to the ongoing development of a campus-wide mental health and wellbeing strategy. Despite at first feeling unattainable, her advocacy is now slowly leading to tangible changes. 

Barakati eventually wants to earn a graduate degree, but wants to work first in psychiatric and addictions nursing to help the most vulnerable patient populations. 

What does receiving the Gold Medal Award mean to you?

When I started my journey at TMU as an immigrant to Canada, I always questioned, “Would I fit in?” Now as I finish this milestone in my life, I feel well established in this community. I’m really proud of that, and to me this award attests to that! Moreover, many times in volunteer and advocacy work, it can be discouraging when you face rejection or your work goes unnoticed. Receiving this award also affirms that what I’m doing matters and that my community values what I work toward, and it motivates me to push harder to reach my goals.

You also recently received the university’s Dennis Mock Student Leadership Award. What motivated you to reach out for student leadership? 

As someone who has overcome mental health challenges throughout their education, I often reflect on the supports and barriers that affected my experience. This motivates me to advocate for students facing similar challenges whose voices go unheard due to social stigma. I have worked towards these goals by engaging in my community mainly through the TMU Mental Health Committee, the Nursing Course Union, and the Jack.org chapter, which I lead. These experiences granted me a platform to become a better advocate and leader in my community by leading multiple mental health initiatives on and off campus and acting on student concerns. 

My engagement in extracurriculars at the university have contributed more to my growth as a person than just academics. Extracurriculars taught me leadership and management skills which are core skills that make you employable. They also allowed me to network with both staff and students to recognize opportunities on campus. 

How did your undergraduate experience help you grow as a person and prepare for a career? 

Although I began my undergraduate experience in the nursing program having limited insight into what the field offers, TMU introduced me to a range of opportunities to incorporate my passion for research, advocacy, and leadership activities into my career. From having seven different placement experiences to engaging in over five research projects, I was able to explore my interests and learn about opportunities within my field. 

Beyond the realm of academics, I’m grateful for the new perspectives I gained during my undergrad experience. I started my undergraduate journey as an adolescent seeing the world in black and white and knowing nothing about what it means to care for one going through grief, addictions, or trauma. Experiencing such interaction through my nursing placements and coursework, helped me understand the broader social determinants shaping our individual experiences; this allowed me to see and experience the world differently as a young adult nearing the end of my degree!

What are your best memories from your undergraduate experience?

I had a phenomenal experience working with different patient populations in my placements. One particular experience I enjoyed was working as a sexual health advisor. Being able to empower women in this role by providing health education and counselling was especially rewarding. It’s an amazing feeling when your patients voice their gratitude and are able to take charge of their reproductive needs given the hush-hush nature of these topics.

Do you have any advice for fellow undergraduate students?

There are so many things you may think are unattainable which you'd be surprised that you will achieve during your undergrad. What I learned along the way is that you shouldn’t get discouraged if your work does not pay off immediately. These changes may not happen overnight whether it be advocating for systems changes or personal growth. This is all to say that your small steps aren't as small as you think!

Reflecting on when I first started pushing for changes at my program and university level, I often felt dismissed and discouraged. I would never believe that four years later many of those changes became reality. Also, at times your advocacy may not necessarily lead to a tangible change during your time of leadership, but it definitely still matters as it paves the way for others to work towards that goal or outcome.