“Life can move so fast and you can get caught up in your environment and in what people around you are doing…. For me, it is important to come back and see who I am and where I fit in with my surroundings...I know I want to take this reflective experience with me later on in my life no matter what I do” said Sonika in a past interview, which was filmed when she was studying as Health Science student in McMaster University. Sonika is currently doing her medical residency in family medicine in Calgary. And yes, she did keep her promise of bringing the reflective experience with her all the way to, well, 2016.
Reflection definitely is a longtime friend of Sonika. The journey can be traced back to a high school leadership program where she did a decent amount of reflection on her learning.
In her first year, Sonika participated in an Open Circle program, the reflection circles, where she got the chance to reflect on her feelings and build friendship with others. This helped her on balancing difference aspects of life and smoothing the transition from high school to university. From reflection groups, she found out about Community Volunteer action (CVA), a volunteering program which allows student to volunteer at local non-profit programs and reflects on their experiences through a facilitator guided discussion session.
“I did reflection in Open Circle and CVA to be more aware of who I am and to reflect on the choice that I made....Those reflection really help me know more about myself when I was young. Now, after so many years of education and what I am doing now, reflection definitely make me understand my value and what I want in life.”
Sonika volunteered with one of CVA placements, the Dr. Davey Breakfast and Nutrition Program. From the breakfast program, Sonika realized that the environment such as the access to food and income can literally change how child grow up. This effects how she views the world and how she interacts with the patient now. For example, smoking is a one of the biggest health stressors for some patient, Sonika is aware that she can’t just tell them to stop smoking, instead, she needs to create an active environment and motivate them to terminate their smoking action.
On top of being a volunteer, Sonika went an extra mile and became a CVA facilitator, which gave Sonika a different view on doing reflection.
“[The volunteer] part of it is that you being mindful about yourself and reflect on your experience. The [facilitator] part is that you are creating an environment for other and allow them to share how they feel their feeling, the doubt or fear they have, or whatever they are feeling. You want to create a safe space. It is definitely a time that is challenging. But that are the skills that I definitely carried on with me, to the situation like clinic where I conveyed the same non-judgmental atmosphere for the patient to share anything with me”
After university, reflection continue to be alive in Sonika’s life in a difference form. In her residency program, they would write note on what they learn and what they need to improve in term of knowledge skills. In addition, when Sonika stresses out, she wrote journal which will allow her to look at her stress objectively.
In the future, Sonika wants to be part of teaching clinic where she can help others reflect and grow. She is also interested in working on refugee help and inner city issue.
Here is the link to the filmed interview that Sonika did five years ago: https://vimeo.com/15373554.
Story by: Sarah Song
Reflection definitely is a longtime friend of Sonika. The journey can be traced back to a high school leadership program where she did a decent amount of reflection on her learning.
In her first year, Sonika participated in an Open Circle program, the reflection circles, where she got the chance to reflect on her feelings and build friendship with others. This helped her on balancing difference aspects of life and smoothing the transition from high school to university. From reflection groups, she found out about Community Volunteer action (CVA), a volunteering program which allows student to volunteer at local non-profit programs and reflects on their experiences through a facilitator guided discussion session.
“I did reflection in Open Circle and CVA to be more aware of who I am and to reflect on the choice that I made....Those reflection really help me know more about myself when I was young. Now, after so many years of education and what I am doing now, reflection definitely make me understand my value and what I want in life.”
Sonika volunteered with one of CVA placements, the Dr. Davey Breakfast and Nutrition Program. From the breakfast program, Sonika realized that the environment such as the access to food and income can literally change how child grow up. This effects how she views the world and how she interacts with the patient now. For example, smoking is a one of the biggest health stressors for some patient, Sonika is aware that she can’t just tell them to stop smoking, instead, she needs to create an active environment and motivate them to terminate their smoking action.
On top of being a volunteer, Sonika went an extra mile and became a CVA facilitator, which gave Sonika a different view on doing reflection.
“[The volunteer] part of it is that you being mindful about yourself and reflect on your experience. The [facilitator] part is that you are creating an environment for other and allow them to share how they feel their feeling, the doubt or fear they have, or whatever they are feeling. You want to create a safe space. It is definitely a time that is challenging. But that are the skills that I definitely carried on with me, to the situation like clinic where I conveyed the same non-judgmental atmosphere for the patient to share anything with me”
After university, reflection continue to be alive in Sonika’s life in a difference form. In her residency program, they would write note on what they learn and what they need to improve in term of knowledge skills. In addition, when Sonika stresses out, she wrote journal which will allow her to look at her stress objectively.
In the future, Sonika wants to be part of teaching clinic where she can help others reflect and grow. She is also interested in working on refugee help and inner city issue.
Here is the link to the filmed interview that Sonika did five years ago: https://vimeo.com/15373554.
Story by: Sarah Song