Julie Van Den Bussche
Give a brief bio about yourself/your background/your history.
I grew up near the small town of Holland, Manitoba on an acreage. Throughout my childhood my family provided me with the opportunity to engage in many exciting outdoor activities in Holland’s rural area such as dogsledding, quadding, horseback riding, and camping. I still thoroughly enjoy the outdoors and physical activity to this day. My parents helped me develop a strong work ethic by having me work on our hobby farm with our livestock and organic gardening business. Being part of a small, rural community, I was also exposed to the importance of volunteering and community service from a young age. My community service began with the local 4-H club which I participated in throughout elementary school.
In my early years of high school I was a part of any sports team or school competition I could get my hands on until I tore my ACL on a family ski trip. Unable to participate in physical activities, I found I had much more free time, so I extended my volunteering from being mostly within the high school to my community. The Holland-Treherne area has a large senior population, so I reached out to the MILES program and began volunteering regularly with seniors. I also co-founded a program that created opportunity for more high school students like myself to also volunteer their time to seniors in our community.
I began the first two years of my university career with BU online. Despite being a zoom student, I still managed to make some connections with my professors as well as establish some friendships with my fellow online classmates. This 2022-23 school year has been my first year living in Brandon. In person, I find myself continuing to grow and create connections on and off campus which has been an amazing experience. The volunteer opportunities here in Brandon are like nothing I have ever seen around Holland. I have joined several clubs and organizations such as BU Student Leaders, BU Psychology Club, CFS Parent Child Plus program, Swimmingly, and I fundraised for Central Plains Cancer Services with a team of friends. I am grateful to all my supportive family, friends, mentors, and professors, especially in this new and exciting school year!
What education have you taken?
I graduated from Treherne Collegiate in 2020 and I am currently in my third year of university. Next spring, I will be graduating from Brandon University with a 4-Year Honours Bachelor of Science with a major in psychology and a minor in biology.
How did you become interested in your field/area of study?
I originally came to BU to complete prerequisite courses for Dentistry and was taking psychology as an elective. After a close family member of mine was diagnosed with a serious mental illness during my first year at BU, I decided I wanted to enter the field of psychology. Before making a final decision, I wanted to learn more about the school career as well as the professional careers psychology had to offer. The wonderful psychology faculty at Brandon University helped educate me about the field of psychology both in and out of university. I have been enjoying my studies in psychology ever since.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am proud of the academic achievements I have been able to accomplish despite the challenges and other responsibilities in my life, but most of all I am grateful for the opportunities they have provided me. I am very proud and extremely appreciative of my scholarships and awards that I have been fortunate enough to receive from Brandon University. These scholarships have been greatly supportive and have allowed me to continue to focus on my academics. I am also proud of the community initiatives I have founded, lead, and volunteered with over the years. I have met so many amazing people who participate in and run phenomenal programs that provide community and students with opportunity.
Where do you see yourself in the future? What do you hope to undertake or accomplish once you leave BU?
Once I leave BU my goal is to enter the School Psychology Master’s program at the University of Manitoba. I ideally see myself returning to the Brandon area to carry on with my career as a School Psychologist. My goal is to support and guide children as well as their families through the struggle of mental illness, especially when it comes to their education. I aim to one day be able to provide children with the tools they need to cope with their given situation, and so that they may be able to access as many opportunities as possible in their futures.
What is your philosophy in life?
I continuously tell myself “one step at a time.” I find it easy to become overwhelmed by both short- and long-term goals, so the best way to succeed and not burn out is to focus on one thing at a time. It is very helpful to organize and prioritize goals and tasks. I think it is also important to remember that with each step, positivity and kindness go a long way.
In one sentence, how will you #EmbraceEquity?
I will #EmbraceEquity by continuing to call out bias when I come across it.
Nominator’s Comments:
Julie is an exemplary student. I have had the pleasure of teaching her across a range of in-person and on-line courses. Regardless of the delivery format or course content, Julie consistently demonstrates a zeal for learning that has a positive impact on the whole class. Her questions are often insightful, and typically serve to elevate the issue at hand. She regularly contributes to class discussions, demonstrations, and practice exercises, which fosters an inclusive and participatory educational experience. I have no doubt that other students benefit from her willingness to engage and express her genuine thoughts about the course material. Doing so is no easy feat, as it demands a fair degree of humility, courage, trust, and creativity. Julie models these characteristics on a regular basis, and as a result, I believe she demonstrates leadership in the classroom and makes a meaningful difference to the learning environ.