Student Profile: Making a Positive Contribution

January 16, 2019
Student Profile: Making a Positive Contribution

Victoria Jackman BCom 20

Student Profile: Making a Positive Contribution Student Profile: Making a Positive Contribution

My passion for the area of diversity and inclusion was sparked in kindergarten when I observed students excluding a classmate of mine who had Down Syndrome. Some kids made fun of her while most kids ignored her. However, I found myself drawn to her happy demeanor and contagious laugh. As we spent time together, I discovered she also had more great attributes, like a very kind heart. I learned that her interests were much like my own: she liked singing songs, playing outside during recess, and we shared the same favourite colour. I enjoyed every second we spent together. I realized many of my fellow classmates couldn’t foresee the tremendous value her friendship would add to their lives. They did not see that she was a person first; she was not Down Syndrome but a person with Down Syndrome. I felt they had a blind spot and missed out on a great person as a result. Thanks to her friendship, I developed the vision to see the value of inclusion from a very young age. I have always carried this experience with me and it has propelled my efforts in taking a leadership role in making a positive social impact in the area of diversity and inclusion. 

One of the most rewarding initiatives I have taken to foster inclusion is coaching sports to people with special needs. Sports function as a powerful unifying force for people of all walks of life; sports can be adapted to meet diverse abilities and a love for sports is a common bond we can all share. At the age of fifteen, I started to coach swimming with the Special Olympics branch in my hometown of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. Special Olympics is the world’s largest athletic organization focused on providing recreational and competitive sports instruction to people with developmental disabilities, such as autism and Down Syndrome. At the first swimming practice I attended, I fell in love with coaching Special Olympics athletes. It was amazing to be in a position to teach athletes new skills and empower them to focus on their abilities rather than their disabilities. I soon became involved in more Special Olympics sports programs including becoming a bocce coach and a volunteer at track and field competitions. When I moved to Kingston to pursue my Bachelor of Commerce degree, I brought this passion to Queen’s. On campus, I volunteer with SWAM Canada Kingston, a partner of Special Olympics. 

Another initiative I have taken within the area of diversity and inclusion is helping people who have anaphylactic food allergies. Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal allergic reaction. Having had life-threatening food allergies as a child, I understand the tremendous importance of taking the initiative to educate people about managing their own food allergies and helping others learn how to support safe and inclusive environments for people with food allergies. In 2014, I became my province's first representative on Food Allergy Canada's National Youth Advisory Panel. Highlights of my involvement include being the former Team Lead for Social Media as well as being the current Team Lead of French Language Resources for Youth, a team focused on developing online informational content for Francophone youth. I am also a lead mentor in Food Allergy Canada's Allergy Pals Online Mentorship Program. This program is designed to bring together kids and youth with food allergies. Weekly sessions are lead by experienced mentors focused on facilitating positive conversations about managing food allergies, bullying, and anxiety.

With a strong interest in helping people who face medical challenges, I also volunteer for the Terry Fox Foundation. The Terry Fox Run is a cancer research fundraising event that takes place each year in regions around the world. In 2017, I organized the first-ever community-wide Terry Fox Run in the City of Mount Pearl. This involved establishing a volunteer committee of 8 executive team members and 20 run day marshals. The Mount Pearl Terry Fox Run successfully raised over $1,500.00 for cancer research. The Terry Fox Run is now taking place annually in my hometown.

It is rewarding to know my contributions and sustained commitment to leadership has positively impacted my community. My efforts have been recognized by a number of scholarship programs including the D&R Sobey Atlantic Scholarship. This scholarship is a full-tuition major admission award for Queen’s Commerce annually awarded to six Atlantic Canadian students for academic ability, creativity, community involvement, and leadership qualities. Queen’s continues to support my development as a social impact oriented leader by providing the Certificate in Social Impact program. This program has connected me with an outstanding network of fellow students who are passionate about making a difference and has also granted me opportunities to meet with iconic leaders in the area of social impact. For example, in 2017, I had the honour of meeting Zita Cobb at the Social Impact Summit Conference. Zita Cobb is a Newfoundlander who founded the Fogo Island Inn, a luxury hotel that has had a significant impact in making jobs and stimulating the struggling economy in rural communities in Newfoundland. She is a tremendous inspiration. I one day hope to make an impact on Newfoundland’s healthcare system similar to the impact Zita has made in the tourism industry. I am grateful for the empowering opportunities the Certificate in Social Impact has provided. I look forward to taking all I have learned from my experiences with the Certificate in Social Impact and infuse it in my efforts to make a positive contribution to the world.

Written by Victoria Jackman BCom 20