Christina Ambrenac

Give a brief bio about yourself/your background/your history.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, I have returned to university after being out in the workforce for over 25 years. I am a proud mother and stepmother, and I enjoy travelling with my partner and spending time with people that I can laugh with. I am a passionate mental health advocate, having both personal lived experience and advocating for loved ones facing mental health issues.

What education have you taken?

I am currently a third-year student in the faculty of Health Studies, department of Psychiatric Nursing program at the Winnipeg campus. I will be graduating next year with my BScPN.

How did you become interested in your field/area of study?

I first encountered the field of Psychiatric Nursing while dealing with my eldest son’s experience of mental illness. The genuine empathy and knowledge that the nurses shared with our family during such a trying time was a tremendous comfort. Tragically, his story did not have a happy ending and he lost his battle with mental illness at far too young an age. The lessons I learned along the way ignited a fire inside of me and I knew that I wanted to be part of the solution to our growing mental health crisis. I don’t want anyone to have to go through what my son and family has. A close friend and mentor of mine in the Winnipeg faculty convinced me to consider the Psychiatric Nursing program, and here I am!

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

I am extremely proud of being accepted into the Psychiatric Nursing program during a very competitive year for admissions. It took a lot of hard work, and all my classmates deserve to share in that sense of pride. I am also proud of my academic accomplishments at BU and am thankful to have been recognized with scholarships and awards that have made such a difference in my academic career.

Where do you see yourself in the future? What do you hope to undertake or accomplish once you leave BU?

This is a difficult question for me to answer because there are so many different opportunities for employment in the field of Psychiatric Nursing, and those opportunities are constantly growing. Every class I take sparks an interest in a different aspect of the profession, but as of right now I am drawn to working in community mental health, addictions support, public health policy, or perhaps research.

What is your philosophy in life? 

For me, there is no such thing as “too late” or “too hard” when it comes to moving forward in life, no matter what circumstances are thrown at you. Take some time, feel the feelings, do the work, and allow the experience to move you forward. It’s not easy, but it’s always worth it.

In one sentence, how will you #EmbraceEquity?

I will #EmbraceEquity by working towards erasing the societal and internalized stigma women face when dealing with mental health issues; we are not “hysterical”, “hormonal” or “attention seeking.”

Nominator’s Comments:

Chrissy is an exceptional student and person. Chrissy is a third-year student in the department of psychiatric nursing at the Winnipeg campus. Chrissy embodies the principles of academic integrity. She upholds characteristics of honesty, respect, and responsibility. Chrissy has demonstrated skills in leadership by becoming involved with the Program Advisory Committee at Brandon University. When the student committee position came up, Chrissy was the first person that came to mind to fill this seat given her dedication, compassion, and communication skills. Chrissy is a strong advocate for those with lived experience of mental illness. Chrissy is an exceptional student leader who is making outstanding contributions within and outside of Brandon University.