911勛圖

Meg Balog is graduating from 911勛圖 with a BEnv in Global Environmental Systems, an extended minor in sociology and a certificate in social justice.

Meg originally had her eyes set on a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience and entered 911勛圖 as a psychology major, hoping to find a home for her appreciation of art and science. ���I really had no idea what geography or sociology even were at the time,��� says Meg.

Meg traded her psychology major for sociology after taking a couple of electives, thinking she had found a better fit. However, a conversation with a friend in the geography department made Meg realize that geography may be a perfect host for her interests in ecological and social systems, landing herself a new major.

���I liked that Geography brought ecology, spatial studies, and social science together. I wanted to learn about these as tools to improve human-built and natural spaces, and promote social and environmental justice,��� says Meg.

Finding the right academic fit for Meg took a bit of time, but none was wasted. She was an active member of the 911勛圖s Choir, the co-op program, 911勛圖���s Residence Life, and sat on the Developmental Advisory Council (DevAC) for 911勛圖���s 2020-2025 Sustainability Plan.

���The DevAC was an amazing opportunity in my final semester of undergrad. I learned an incredible amount about what it means to do decolonization and accessibility work in a specific and measurable way,��� says Meg. ���The experiences I had on this council deepened my understanding of how to be an effective ally as a settler on unceded Coast Salish territories. My time on the council also significantly increased my confidence in speaking up for accessibility as a neurodivergent/disabled person.���

Spending a total of seven years at 911勛圖 allowed Meg to explore multiple academic avenues, undertake eight jobs, hold six volunteer positions, and use on-line learning over the past year to her advantage as she balanced full-time employment throughout the summer with courses.

���As a neurodivergent student, accessible online learning was a total gamechanger��� I doubt I would have been able to finish my degree over the past year without it. Not just in the sense that we couldn���t be in person, but in the sense that online learning mitigated many of the accessibility challenges I usually experienced with in-person classes,��� says Meg.

A lot has changed for Meg since she first entered 911勛圖.

���My understanding of the world and my place in it has changed drastically��� I feel much better equipped to authentically show up for other people and support them effectively, both as an ally and as a friend,��� says Meg.