As she prepares to graduate from the University of Toronto Mississauga, Nirmol Midha takes time to reflect on the meaningful lessons, rich experiences and diverse connections that have punctuated his journey – including his passion for supporting mental health.

“It’s a very emotional time, because at UTM I developed enormously, not only academically but also as a person,” says Midha, an international student from India who graduated undergraduate degree in psychology.

“It was a time of self-exploration, growth and discovering my resilience.”

Midha specifically chose to study at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus because of its serene natural environment and the opportunity to have two minors – in biology and political science.

She says majoring in psychology allowed her to better understand human motivations and behaviors – and learn how to support mental health.

“I felt a deep calling to understand people on a deeper level and support their emotional and mental well-being,” she says.

“I think it’s really important in today’s world.”

Midha says she was fascinated to learn about how the mind develops, the structure and function of the brain, the evolution of cognition in children, and how to conduct quantitative research.

She says her teachers skillfully brought the topics to life.

“All the professors at UTM taught very well. They made the concepts so appealing,” she says. “They were helpful, accommodating and always trying to offer a helping hand.”

Midha supplemented her classroom learning with extracurricular activities related to mental health.

She served as vice president of the Mending Minds student club, for which she organized mental health awareness events. She also worked as education and communications manager at The den of well-beinga space connected to the Health and Counseling Center which offers well-being services to support students. There, she created an escape room game to publicize the Den’s offerings.

“The goal of the Den was to let students know that we all face academic and personal pressures – and sometimes it’s a lot, but we’ll be OK,” she said.

Like other Class of 2024 graduates, Midha’s studies were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic which forced the University of Toronto to hold many classes virtually for an extended period of time. It’s been difficult to miss so much campus life, she says, but she notes that she’s been able to find her rhythm through online learning and maintain her circle of friends.

She says remote learning also allowed her to care for her nephew, who was sick.

“Everything will have its positives and negatives,” she says. “You just have to see the positive side and move on. »

While Midha plans future studies in social work and speech-language pathology, she is currently focused on roles in research, administration and mental health.

What she knows for sure is that she wants to apply what she’s learned about human psychology and wellness so she can help others. This includes through her volunteer role as vice president of marketing for Connections to UTM campusesa club that supports members of the community with developmental disabilities.

“I want to use what I learned at UTM to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives,” she says. “I hope to contribute to something bigger than myself in the future. »