Kylee Lewis

What education have you taken? 

I am graduating from Brandon University this Spring with a 3-year Bachelor of Science, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. I’ve also take a few photography classes at Assiniboine Community College.

What accomplishments are you proud of? 

I am very proud to be part of the staff at the Crisis Stabilization Unit as a Crisis Worker and at the Manitoba Farm, Rural and Northern Support Services as a Crisis Counsellor. Working in these places has given me the opportunity to meet incredibly strong and wonderful clients from all walks of life.

I also have worked with Dr. Guillermo Rocha on a few research papers, one of which we are hoping to publish in the coming year. This has been a wonderful opportunity. I’m also very proud to have been added onto the Honour’s list at Brandon University for the past three years, as well as being inducted into the President’s Honours Society.

Tell me about yourself.

I was born and raised in Brandon. I graduated from Vincent Massey High School and went straight into Brandon University the following fall.

I come from a very outdoorsy family; my two sisters and I spent a lot of time fishing and hunting with our parents growing up. I still love to spend time fishing with my family, and for the past few years we have organized the Generation Next Angler Tournament in Westman, which is aimed at getting kids interested in outdoor sports like fishing.

I love travelling and learning about different cultures. I’ve backpacked through Europe, gone on a volunteer trip to Ecuador, and been to several states in the US. Between my partner and a few close friends, there’s usually someone free to drag along with me when my travel-bug kicks in. I would really like to see more of Canada this year.

How did you become interested in your field of study? 

I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was in high school. I explored other career options, but I kept coming back to medicine. I decided to study Psychology because I liked how it focuses on humanity. I enjoy learning about how our biological predisposition, mental health and social ties affect our overall health status. I want to be the type of doctor that can treat my patients as a whole, and not just as a sum of their symptoms. I feel that my degree in Psychology has prepared me well for this!

What is your philosophy in life? 

My philosophy in life is to be attentive and to be kind. Whether it’s with a client, my partner, or a cashier at the grocery store, I always try my best to put my phone away and set my thoughts aside to spend time focusing on our shared interaction. Sometimes this can be difficult, because I tend to live in my head, but I think it’s so important to be mindful and present in these shared moments.

Where do you see yourself in the future? 

I see myself practicing Family Medicine in a rural area. I hope to start a scholarship or bursary for young women interested in a career in medicine or science. I want to continue learning new things, and to continue to challenge myself to grow and expand my thinking.

Nominator’s comments:

I have known Kylee for the last 3 years. She is a bright, hard working student, who aside from being a student juggles several roles. Regardless of challenges associated with being a student, and her part time positions and volunteer work helping people with mental health issues, she always maintains a positive outlook and upbeat approach to life. As a student, she always strives to do her best and is one of the top students in our psychology program. She is hoping to study medicine and I am confident that she will be an excellent physician some day.