New UTM grad Nirmol Midha ready to create a ‘compassionate, healthier community’
As convocation ceremonies take place at the University of Toronto over the next few days, saying goodbye is bittersweet for new graduate Nirmol Midha as she reflects on the meaningful lessons, rich experiences and diverse connections of her U of T Mississauga journey.
“It’s a really emotional time, because I developed at UTM so much – not only academically but as a person. It was a time of self-exploration, growth and discovering my resilience,” says Midha, an international student from India who completed an undergraduate degree in psychology.
Drawn to U of T for its distinguished global reputation, Midha specifically chose to study at the UTM campus because of its serene natural surroundings, and the ability to take two minors – in biology and political science. She viewed majoring in psychology as a way to better understand human motivations and behaviours. She also learned how to build strong mental health.
“I felt a deep calling to understand people on a deeper level and support their emotional and mental well-being,” she says. “When we understand ourselves and others better, we can create a better world and a compassionate and healthier community. I think that’s really important in today’s world.”
In her studies, Midha was fascinated to learn about the stages of the mind’s development, the structure and function of the brain, the evolution of cognition in children, and processes for conducting quantitative research. While the content of her courses were interesting on their own, she says her professors skillfully brought the topics to life.
“All of the professors at UTM taught really well, they made the concepts so engaging,” she says. “They were helpful, accommodating and always trying to offer a helping hand.”
Midha complemented her classroom learning by participating in mental health-related extracurricular activities. She served a term as the vice-president of the student club Mending Minds, for which she organized mental health awareness events. She also worked as the education and communication lead at The Wellness Den, a Health & Counselling Centre space that provides wellness services to support students coping with academic and personal pressures. In this role, Midha created an escape room game that helped build students’ awareness of the Den’s offerings.
“The goal at the Den was to let students know that we all deal with academic and life pressures, and sometimes it’s a lot, but everything’s going to be fine,” she says.
Like other graduates in her cohort, Midha’s education was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic that forced UTM to make classes virtual for an extended period. Missing out on so much campus life was difficult, she says, but notes she was able to find her stride with online learning and maintain her circle of friends. As well, she says, learning remotely allowed her more time to attend to an unwell nephew.
“Everything’s going to have its positives and negatives. You just have to look at the positive side and move on with it,” she says.
Midha doesn't rule out future study in the areas of social work and speech-language pathology. For now, she is focusing on research, administration and mental health roles. What she knows for sure is that she wants to apply what she has learned about human psychology and wellness to be of service to others and the world.
She is already realizing that aspiration in her latest volunteer role as vice-president of marketing for UTM Campus Connections, a club that makes the institution welcoming to community members with intellectual disabilities.
“I want to use what I’ve learned at UTM to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives,” she says. “I hope to contribute to something bigger than myself in the future.”
