Erica Sharanowski

What education have you taken?

I graduated in 2013 from Vincent Massey High School in Brandon. I am currently completing my final year of a 4-year Bachelor of Science Honours degree with a major in Psychology and a minor in Biology.  

What accomplishments are you proud of?

I was fortunate enough to receive scholarships from several generous donors over the course of my time at Brandon University. I am very thankful for their support.

Additionally, I am grateful for the experiences I have had volunteering with the Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba (CFS). My time spent with the families and youth in our community have given me the opportunity to meet a number of exceptionally strong and resilient children. Volunteering with these families and youth has been both extremely valuable and rewarding.

Tell me about yourself.

I was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but have lived in Brandon since my family moved here almost 20 years ago. Many of my summers growing up were spent with my family, camping in various locations across Canada and the U.S. Spending time in new and exciting places, led to my love of travelling and learning about different cultures. So far, I have been to London and France, backpacked through Bali, Indonesia, and travelled to a number of states in the U.S. I am hoping to spend more time travelling in the near future.

I love to spend time reading, and writing fictional stories. I also enjoy being outside in the summer, spending time hiking and camping with family and friends. 

How did you become interested in your field of study?

In my first year at BU, I had no idea what field of study interested me the most. It was through taking an introductory psychology course my first semester, that I discovered my true passion for Psychology and decided to pursue it as a major. 

I became interested in the field of School Psychology, after having a number of volunteer and work experiences related to helping children as they learn and grow. In the education system, there are often children who do not have the support they need to reach their full potential. I am hopeful that through providing them with encouragement and support in the learning process, I will be able to make a meaningful and long-lasting difference in their lives.   

What is your philosophy in life?

It is difficult to come up with a specific philosophy, but I do try to live my life being kind and considerate to all the people I meet. Whether it is a child I am interacting with, a friend or a complete stranger, I try to make sure I acknowledge them.  It isn’t always easy, but it is important to me to be positive and understanding towards others—everyone is going through different challenges and struggles and deserves to be heard and understood.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

I would love to see more of the world, through volunteering experiences in different countries, but ultimately I hope to begin my Masters Degree in School Psychology in the coming years. In the future, I wish for a happy, challenging and meaningful life.

Nominator’s Comments:

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Erica in several capacities at Brandon University. First, she was an exemplary student in my statistics courses, achieving A+ as final grades. Considering the abstract and formal nature of quantitative methods, I consider Erica’s mastery of the material a substantial accomplishment in and of itself. Second, I am acting as her honours thesis supervisor. Throughout her thesis, Erica has demonstrated a passionate and tenacious approach to scholarship. When confronted with a problem, Erica is willing to act autonomously and attempt several solutions. At the same time, she is also willing to ask questions in order to clarify her understanding. Her willingness to work independently, but also seek clarifications when they arise speaks to her conceptual dexterity. Ultimately, I believe that Erica will excel in any area that she pursues.