For many young women and girls, finding role models and community among other women can shape how they see themselves and what they believe is possible. In this Q&A, Alba, an alum from Pathways Regent Park, reflects on the women who have inspired and challenged her throughout her journey.
Alba, a third-year molecular biology student at the University of Toronto, is tucked into a corner of the library, laptop open and headphones on, catching her breath between classes. Most afternoons, she’s immersed in conversations about cell signalling or gene expression, but today, she’s eager to talk about the women who helped get her here.
Five years ago, Alba was in high school and working as a part-time grocery store cashier, scanning one item after another with little sense of where she was headed. She had no idea that the women in her life were about to help her change course and discover a field she loves.
We asked Alba about these mentors and peers, starting with the one who lit the spark.
The First Influence
Tell us about your mom. How would you describe her?
My mom is the most outgoing person you’ll ever meet. She was born in Honduras, and her family was very poor, but then she married my dad, came to Canada and had three kids in one year! My twin sister and our younger sister. She’s had a very hard life, and when she tells me some of those stories, it’s hard to understand how she’s still going, still always genuinely smiling.
She works at a grocery store as her main job, but really, my mom is a jack of all trades. She does elderly care — she cleans and does grocery shopping and food prep. We live in a co-op with a lot of elderly people, and everyone knows her. People I’ve never met come up to me and know that I’m her daughter.
When I was little, I would tell my mom, “I want to do what you do when I’m older.” And she would say, “No. I want you to do better than me.” She always had big dreams for me and my sisters. Not necessarily to be doctors or lawyers — as long as we were pushing ourselves, she was happy. She believed that challenges lead to growth.
Alba, left, with her mother.
Why did she want you to join Pathways?
My mom heard about the program from a friend whose daughter had joined and had a good experience, so she pushed me and my sisters to sign up. I think she could see that I was socially anxious, that I didn’t like venturing out. I just went to school and back, school and back. She hoped Pathways would help me break out of my shell and develop in new ways.
What’s the most important thing your mom has taught you?
Delusional self-belief!
My transition to university was tough. I was in a completely new environment. I was taking tougher classes and the workload was heavy. I did really well in some classes, and not so well in others. And when I started to have doubts, my mom reminded me how important it was to believe in myself and keep going.
“You’ve done it before, and you can do it again,” she said. She was right.
The Icebreaker
When did you first meet Kim, your Pathways support worker?
I joined Pathways in Grade 11, in the middle of the pandemic, so my first sessions with Kim were online. I honestly didn’t expect much from the program, maybe a few tutoring sessions. But once I met Kim, I didn’t want to leave. She was so outgoing and sweet with me, and my anxiety started to ease off. No matter how silly I thought my questions were, she responded like they were her top priority.
She introduced me to all the different programs and events and workshops, and I realized that Pathways was much bigger than I thought.
How did she help you explore your passion for science?
I’d always been interested in STEM, but I’d never thought it was an option for me because it’s really competitive. I didn’t have any connections or the money to pursue that kind of career. But through Pathways, I was able to do a program at Toronto General Hospital, where you could observe a doctor’s work over three days. It was a chance to actually talk to professionals in the field! Kim connected me to another program too, an internship with the University Health Network in Toronto. I feel like these experiences really helped my confidence and made me feel more comfortable speaking up.
The Gamechanger
Tell us about Ornella and your experience working with her.
Ornella was the manager of the three-day program at Toronto General Hospital. She prepared me to observe the surgeries, talk with doctors, and understand what I could get out of the experience. At first, I thought I had to be super professional with her — like a robot, essentially. But she was so silly. She absolutely put me at ease.
At the end of the program, I told her how much I’d loved it, but it was only three days! I asked her, what else I could do after this? And she was willing to help me figure that out.
She recommended me for a program at the University Health Network. It was a summer-long project, and I got the role. And from there, I was able to get a research position at the Krembil Brain Institute for the entire summer. It was five days a week — and it was paid! I was able to get so much experience and make some money for school. Everything grew and branched out from that first three-day opportunity.
Scrubbed in and ready! During her three-day program at Toronto General Hospital, Alba observed her first surgery and met inspiring doctors and researchers.
The Kindred Spirits
Tell us about the Pathways camping trip to Algonquin Provincial Park and the girls you met there.
There were seven girls on the trip, including me. We were canoeing and portaging, carrying these 100-pound backpacks.
On the second night, there was a huge thunderstorm. The camp leader said it was the biggest she’d ever been in. And I remember just sobbing in my tent. I wanted to go home. But I think the storm kind of neutralized the anxiety of being there with new people. After that, I felt like, okay, now we’re all in this together. We were all dirty and sweaty and had mosquito bites, and it felt good to just let go of expectations.
After a day of canoeing in Algonquin Provincial Park, the girls paused to take in the sunset.
What did you learn from that experience?
That trip was very meaningful to me. Every night, we would go on a walk and explore the new place where we had landed. It wasn’t a relaxing trip — it was really challenging, physically and emotionally. But it made me understand that I want to be challenged.
I’m very grateful that trip was woman-led, because it made me realize the importance of female friendships. We share so many of the same experiences and frustrations, and I carry that with me when I meet someone new. It makes the interaction feel more human.
Coming Full Circle
Today, Alba is an Alumni Ambassador for Pathways to Education, sharing her experience to help others understand the program and what it can offer. She is also in the process of becoming a mentor to younger students at the University of Toronto. In a competitive program like hers, she knows how important it is to have supporters, friends, and champions — people who encourage self-belief and show you that your dreams are within reach.