Thank you for your kindness, and for your contribution to a field I have become quite passionate about. I am grateful for your acknowledgment of the efforts students make to respect their academic commitments, but even more for the reminder that education is a privilege and that hard work is a sign of respect toward the opportunities we are handed as students. My start in psychology was marked by the uncertainty of finding everything that I was hoping for in this line of work, yet after 2 years I hesitate only in the ways in which I may give in return for all that I have been offered during my time at this school. I believe my first responsibility lies first in honoring the standards this award was intended to uphold.
I also believe compassion is a means by which we can better understand that which may have otherwise been lost in the translation from actions to reasons. During my time at McGill, I have been inspired in my personal reflections by what I have learned about the role of the therapeutic process in the treatment of psychological disorders as well as the idea that diversity must be recognized if we are to gain insight into people’s experience of mental health across cultures. Time spent in class and in research has also taught me that beyond the analysis of the human mind, psychology can also epitomize the dedication of scientific effort to the empowerment of those who have been underserved or disregarded in the past.
I am incredibly appreciative of the opportunities for personal and professional growth my years as a student have granted me, and eager to explore the potential that lies in those still ahead. Once again, I would like to thank you for your generosity, and express what a privilege it has been to receive such a mention for my work.
Sincerely,
Marion Audet