People
The definition of a high achiever
May 29, 2008
Rand graduates with a B.Sc. in June and the dean’s undergraduate convocation medal for earning the highest cumulative grade point average in the Faculty of Applied Sciences — 4.161 out of a possible 4.255. But numbers only begin to tell her story, says kinesiology chair Richard Ward.
"Her transcript speaks to her ability as a student," says Ward, but "her volunteer service record speaks to her remarkable long-term commitment to her community, borne out of a true concern for the well-being of others."
Rand spent much of her free time at SFU working as a student leader in the Rec Sports program, doing everything from managing the intramural basketball program and attending conferences to helping organize special events.
Off campus, she volunteered as a tutor to kids in the Royal Columbian Hospital pediatrics ward and as a 24-hour telephone hotline crisis-intervention counsellor.
Rand also completed three four-month co-op work terms, including stints as an iCapture cardiac lab researcher at St. Paul’s Hospital; as a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) bioenergetics researcher at SFU; and as an office manager and kinesiologist at Port Moody’s Mountainview Kinesiology clinic.
She’s working for the Saskatchewan Abilities Council this summer, running a "Summer Fun" program for kids with physical and cognitive disabilities, and awaiting acceptance to medical school in B.C. or Alberta. But if that doesn’t work out this year she hopes to do some travelling and volunteering abroad.
As for being a perfectionist, Rand prefers to think of herself as a high achiever. "Perfectionists tend to be so totally focused on their goals they don’t have any fun along the way," she says. "I believe in working hard for what you want, but I’m enjoying the ride too."