Sabreem Somji
*This interview was conducted during the winter 2020 term
My name is Sabreen Somji (Sabby). I’m in my fourth year in a BA of Psychology and Creative Writing, and I’m originally from Toronto, Ontario.
What led you to choose your major(s)?
I knew from a young age that I wanted to help people and understand why they reacted in certain ways during certain situations, which is why I was drawn towards the field of psychology. I realized during university that I used creative writing – poetry and story writing as an outlet for myself, and knew that courses were being offered at Dal in creative writing so I tried one and then in my third year decided that I was really passionate and added it on to my degree.
Are you studying what you thought you would be when you were a grade 12 student? If not, what influenced the change?
I am still studying psychology, but I’m not on the same path as I was when I originally started university. I started off as a BSc, but shortly realized that science and math were not my strong suit, so I switched into a BA. I also decided not to take an honours but rather switch into a double major instead. I realized that becoming a psychologist (which was my original plan) was no longer something I was passionate about, as the field is a lot more research based than I wanted. This urged me to choose something that suited me better – taking my creative outlet and making it something.
What has been your favorite class and why?
My favourite class has been CRWR 2002 – introduction to creative writing. It allows students to explore their creativity in various different forms such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry etc. It made me remember the passion I had for writing and Shauntay Grant (the professor) is an incredible professor, which made learning and going to class a lot more fun.
Can you describe a memorable experiential learning experience?
I’m a first-year psychology lab prefect (for class credit – PSYO 3011/3012), and this course has been the most memorable class I’ve taken in my time at Dal. In the class, we are expected to be prefects and teach a lab section, mark assignments, and encourage first-year psychology students to do well in their class. This class has been so memorable because I remember when I was in my first year taking the course, and I remember how much I loved learning from a fellow student, who made me excited to learn and want to do well. I hope I’ve channeled that into my lab sections, and I hope that they enjoy learning from me. This class also taught me that I want to teach when I’m older. It’s been an incredible experience to have been part of this class.
What are you involved in outside the classroom?
I’m a varsity Badminton player at the University of King’s College, and I’m heavily involved in their athletics department. I’m the gym staff supervisor and I also sit on the King’s Athletic Volunteer Committee. I’m also part of their dance collective and have been choreographing and dancing in their shows since my first year. I work in the MAAC lab at Dalhousie as a research assistant and volunteer.
Over the summer, I worked as one of the three Orientation Week Coordinators at King’s.
What’s been one of your favorite hands-on learning experiences?
I think working in the lab in the psychology department has been one of my favourite hands-on learning experiences. I helped out on a smoking study that was looking at the effects of plain branding on cigarette packages, versus fancy branding. I was one of the main research assistants that ran participants, and my favourite thing was just getting to know the participants – who they were, what they’ve been through etc. It really put into context just how different we all are and that everyone comes from a different walk of life.
What are some strategies you employ to balance your studies with other parts of your life?
I try to stick to a schedule. A lot of my time in the week is usually pre-booked up with classes, practices, volunteering and work, so I try to schedule in times for studying each week based on what I have to get done that week. I also make sure that I have time for myself each day – whether that includes going to the gym, going grocery shopping, or even just hanging out with friends. Time blocking and sticking to schedule is the easiest way for me to balance everything.
Advice for Students:
Is there anything you wish you’d known as a grade 12 student?
University is hard. Balancing living on your own (if you’re not from the Halifax area), learning about a new area, making friends and making sure you go to school and keep yourself healthy is really difficult. I think knowing that there are a lot more support systems on campus is something that I wish I’d known coming into university. I wish I knew that it’s really common for people to switch around their major and figure out what they want to do – that’s part of what university is about. Learning who you are and what you like and realizing that it’s ok if you don’t know what that is yet. You don’t need to have your entire life figured out at 17 or18 years old.
If you can put yourself in the shoes of these students, coming closer to the end of their high school career, what is one piece of advice you would like to pass on to them?
This time of year is really stressful. Trying to finish the school year while waiting to hear back from various schools is really stressful. My biggest piece of advice is to breathe and know that things will turn out ok. Choose a school that you think is right for you, don’t choose a school because that’s where all your friends are going. You’re going to meet so many different people when you start your first year and that’s when all the fun begins. In the meantime, have fun and enjoy the rest of your high school careers.