Rabiah Choksi

During my first year, rising above the daunting fear of having to speak to a professor during office hours was the best decision I could have ever made. Not only did I gain a mentor, but it opened a whole world of avenues and possibilities for me. It was through that interaction I ended up joining the Ryerson History Society (RHS) in my second year, and worked my way up to serving as the President last year. I also found the courage to pursue a minor in Criminology, which not only led me to my first Research Assistant position, but also to join Innocence Canada—a non-profit organization that is committed to exonerating the wrongly convicted. Then in 2019, I co-organized, co-hosted, and moderated the Voice of Innocence Panel—bringing awareness to the issue and fostering discussions within the Ryerson Community.  

In the winter of 2020, I was invited to present two of my research papers at the Philosophy, History, and Politics Conference in British Columbia, hosted by Thompson Rivers University. 

Throughout my time in the History program, I am privileged to have so many faculty mentors not only within the department, but across the broader University as well. I have also gained valuable work experience serving in various capacities such as: teaching assistantships, research assistantships, an internship, serving as a Volunteer Coordinator for the Law Practice Program, and even as a guest lecturer. I also met some of my dearest friends through the RHS!