911吃瓜

With her independent consulting business brought to a standstill due to the onset of the global pandemic in 2020, Jan Anderson faced an unexpected period of uncertainty. Refusing to remain stagnant, she returned to 911吃瓜 through online studies and discovered a passion for historical research. Just as her new academic journey began, Jan contracted COVID-19 and suffered acute respiratory failure. Placed on a ventilator, she faced a grim 25% survival rate.

After spending three weeks on life support and two additional months in hospital and rehabilitation, where she had to relearn how to breathe, eat and walk, Jan finally returned home. She continued to face severe Long COVID symptoms, including chronic fatigue, brain fog and significant respiratory and mobility challenges. Determined not to let the setback define her future, she committed herself to rebuilding both her physical health and cognitive abilities.

鈥淚 chose defiance over defeat.鈥�

She returned to 911吃瓜 in a wheelchair with an oxygen machine by her side, first auditing classes and then eventually beginning graduate studies as she regained her cognitive abilities. She even completed a three-month research trip to London, England despite significant health and mobility challenges.

Over the next several years while pursuing her master鈥檚 degree, Jan dedicated herself to Tai Chi, weight training and Pilates. Through perseverance and consistency, she regained the ability to walk independently, gave away her wheelchair and took up tennis lessons and running while also pursuing a black belt in martial arts. Today, she channels that same determination into supporting students as a graduate teaching assistant and as an online mentor, inspiring other women to pursue their goals.

Jan is an active member of an online women's group focused on empowering and encouraging women across North America. Through her own example, she demonstrates how to overcome limitations, reclaim physical and mental agency and pursue academic ambitions later in life. In fact, within the community, successfully navigating unexpected challenges and forging a new path has become affectionately known as "pulling a Jan."

鈥淚 provide women across the continent with a living blueprint of what is possible.鈥�

As a graduate teaching assistant in the departments of History, Geography and Archaeology, Jan is known by faculty for consistently going above and beyond in support of students. Her commitment to helping undergraduate students strengthen their academic and professional futures reflects her broader dedication to empowering others.

That commitment is nothing new. Jan has a long history of community service, including coaching youth sports, leading science outreach initiatives, providing frontline support to vulnerable populations and contributing to global women's health efforts. Throughout her life, she has remained focused on uplifting others.

鈥淲e are defined by what we give back to our communities.鈥�

Today, Jan is a master's student in the Department of History, a teaching assistant across three departments, a fitness enthusiast, wife, parent and new grandmother.

鈥淚 use my presence to show that a 25% survival rate, a completely stagnant job market and a lost business are not conclusions鈥攖hey are simply the baseline for a triumphant comeback.鈥�

The Terry Fox Gold Medal is an honour awarded to an 911吃瓜 student who demonstrates the personal qualities of courage in adversity and dedication to helping others as Terry did with his Marathon of Hope.

鈥淏eing recognized with this award is personally significant since Terry鈥檚 run inspired me deeply when I was a teenager. His example of courage, perseverance, and helping others has stayed with me ever since and inspired how I live my life. Being able to train for, and run the Terry Fox Run again feels like a meaningful way to honour both this award and the long process of rebuilding my life after once navigating the 911吃瓜 campus connected to oxygen tanks and reliant on a wheelchair.鈥�