Meet Science valedictorian Cindy Chin

Faculty of Science valedictorian Cindy Chin graduates June 16 with a Bachelor of Science in molecular biology and genetics co-op. We asked Chin, who is going to pursue a Master of Genetic Counselling at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, a few questions about herself. Here’s what she had to say.

Why did you choose McMaster?  

I initially wanted to go to McMaster because of its high academic reputation in science. However, I truly fell in love with the campus and the people after visiting it. I felt so welcomed and at home… I guess ultimately it was a gut feeling that made me choose McMaster.

What’s next for you?

I can’t believe I’m saying this: I’m moving to New York City to complete my Masters of Genetic Counselling at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai!! This is a dream come true for me and suffice to say, I am SO excited!

Can you share a great piece of advice you’ve been given?

I’ve gotten a lot of good advice but one that stands out to me is “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” Whenever I was facing hard trials I would always remember that mantra. It definitely takes faith to believe it in the moment, but it provided me with hope and encouragement when things seemed bleak.

Hindsight is always 20/20 but now looking back, this holds true!

Now that you’re graduating, what’s your advice for students?

My biggest piece of advice is to run YOUR race.

Every student is different and will go through a different journey — that applies to both undergrad and in life. In first and second year, I constantly compared myself to what others were doing/accomplishing. Because of that, when I took medical leave in fourth year, I felt so much shame that I was “stuck” in undergrad whereas all my friends were graduating and moving on.

Now that I’m on the other side and have taken a LOT of time to self-reflect, I have realized how valuable my medical leave was for ME. The medical leave helped me to heal, both physically and mentally, so that I finally had the capacity to learn, to seek out opportunities, and eventually discover my passion in pursuing genetic counselling as a career.

My journey to graduating and becoming a genetic counselling student is unconventional, but the lessons I’ve learned along the way have shaped me into the unique individual I am.

For anyone feeling like they are “behind” in life — you’re not! Your unique journey is what makes you unique; you will have a set of skills and experiences that no one else will have! That journey may be painful and frustrating, but you will get through it, I promise!

Tell us about a good memory from your time at McMaster.

One of my favourite memories at McMaster was the football game on my second day of being at Mac. I didn’t know anything about football, but sitting there with my new friends from residence, some of them now my best friends, and dancing and chanting Mac cheers, led by the Maroons — it made me feel like I was a part of a community.

What’s an accomplishment you’re really proud of?

Receiving the Faculty of Science 2021/2022 Co-op Student of the Year Award is an accomplishment I’m really proud of. This award was really special to me because it was not only a reflection of how far I’ve come since my medical leave, but also it was the co-op term (I worked as a genetic counselling assistant) that affirmed that genetic counselling is the career that I want to dedicate the rest of my life to.

I have always been passionate about serving the community and I am proud of the contributions I’ve made to both the clinic/Hamilton community and the Faculty of Science Co-op program through this co-op position. Specifically, from speaking with my peers, I know there is high interest in genetic counselling, but few positions available to gain experience. I am hopeful that my personalized job search and work in the clinic will open up future opportunities for those who want exposure to the genetic counselling field.

Tell us about a prof or mentor figure or someone who made a difference for you in your time at Mac.

Although I’ve been positively impacted by many mentors during my time at McMaster, one person in particular that made a huge difference in my life is my academic advisor, Charlene Mifflin. As mentioned above, I had to take a medical leave in fourth year. The decision to step away from school and focus on my health, especially as someone who valued academics so much, was extremely difficult.

In contrast to others who told me what I should do, Charlene responded with compassion and empathy, empowering me to make my own decisions in a situation where I felt powerless. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and she guided me through every step when I eventually resumed my studies. I truly don’t think I would be where I am today without Charlene.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Hmm good question… I think that it would probably be time manipulation! It would be cool to be able to slow down time during the good moments of life and to fast forward the bad parts of life. And it would be extremely beneficial to slow down time when I have a test to study for or an assignment to finish! I know it’s unrealistic but hey, superpowers are unrealistic right?

What’s an important lesson you’ve learned so far?

Throughout the years, I’ve learned just how important self-care is. When we’re younger, it’s easy to take your health for granted — I certainly did. After becoming sick at such a young age and not being able to do the things others my age could do (e.g school, extracurriculars, have meaningful relationships, etc), I realized that without health, nothing is possible.

I suddenly understood what it meant by “not being able to pour from an empty cup.”

I realized that there is no shame in seeking out resources — it doesn’t make you weak; instead, recognizing and acting on your needs is a sign of strength.

Although I’m still working on consistently practicing self-care, from being on the other side I can say that being healthy makes a huge difference in the way that I see and am able to contribute to the world.

While at Mac, did you receive donor-funded financial assistance (e.g., a scholarship, award, bursary)? Any thoughts on the importance of giving back to your alma mater to support future generations?  

I received a couple of scholarships, awards, and bursaries — the University Senate Scholarship, the Co-op Student of the year award and a general bursary.

Being able to attend university is a privilege that many people unfortunately do not have. Many barriers exist (e.g financial barriers) that prevent marginalized groups from being able to access higher-level education. For some students, these scholarships, awards, and bursaries determine whether they are able to fund their studies and attend university.

As someone extremely passionate about ensuring that our society is one that is just, equitable, diverse, and accessible, I definitely think it’s important to give back so that this education becomes more accessible for future students.

I think of this as an investment: We are investing in the future generation so that they will eventually be able to make positive and meaningful contributions to our society! I hope to one day be able to give back to McMaster to support future generations.