Each year, an increasing number of Aboriginal students enrole in the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine, in part due to initiatives taken to recruit and retain them. Eagle Feather News recently profiled four of those students.

Name: Jenna Shirley, 1st year

Hometown:  Saskatoon, SK

Hobbies/interests: I am often studying like mad, but I do try to get in the odd racket game with friends, like badminton, tennis, or squash. One of my other favorite things to do is draw and paint, but that doesn’t happen as often as I would like. 

Why Medicine: The deciding factor for me was that I wanted to work in an environment where I could help people. There is no other profession I would rather study. 

Role models: Growing-up my role models were my parents. I don't think that has changed very much. They were married at the age of 18 and raised four children. My mom went back to school when I was twelve years old. I don't think there are any two people more committed to seeing their children succeed in life, and for that I will always look up to my parents as role models. 

Any obstacles to getting into Medicine: I suppose everyone faces some obstacles on the way to their future careers. A lot of them are small, but I found one of the greatest ones was remembering what the goal was. There were often times I didn't think I was good enough to be accepted into the College of Medicine.  It was hard not to accept defeat after a bad test in undergrad or after applying and not getting in right away. Eventually, if you want it enough, it is possible to move past those obstacles and achieve your goals. 

Type of Medicine she hopes to practice and where: I have yet to find a specific type of medicine I would like to practice. My greatest interest is within Pediatrics and Obstetrics. The reason I am leaning towards this area is that I feel that children are the most worthy of care. They are almost always smiling - even when they have been sick for a long time. I grew up with a lot of younger cousins, and it feels natural to work with children. We will see where I end up over the next few years. As for where I would like to practice, all I need is a place where my family also lives. 

Advice for young Aboriginal kids who dream of becoming a doctor: The same advice I would give to any kids that want to be a doctor. You will get out of it what you put into it, so work as hard as you can. 

Advice for Aboriginal students applying to Medicine: To the aboriginal students applying to get into medicine; it is possible. Don't forget to keep a balance between all aspects of life, and work for what you want.