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Every student knows the weight of choosing which path to take in their studies, and further, in life.

Nour Ahmad, a recent University of New Brunswick (UNB) bachelor of business graduate, navigated academic and professional pursuits while dealing with the challenges of immigrating to Canada.

“I'm a newly graduated international student and a newcomer,” said Ahmad. “Learning to fit in has been a huge chapter for the last two years. I didn't know I would major in anything when I came here.

“Learning from people, talking to others and having work experience here helped me figure out that I would be a marketing major, which led me to this career.”

Ahmad’s experience during her degree and co-op showed her that a marketing major could allow her to be creative in a business career.

“I feel that I could adapt to different things going forward. My skills are very transferrable to different areas,” she explained.

The threshold to new social and professional environments

In 2023 and 2024, Ahmad was the financial chair of UNB’s Connect the Thoughts—the university’s first interdisciplinary health case competition.

To construct a case study, the event’s student leadership team pairs up with professionals and experts in the healthcare field. The chosen healthcare issue is then presented to the competing student teams who research and generate a proposed solution. They have a week to come up with their plan. During the organization’s second meeting, the teams present their solutions, and the top three are selected by panellists as the winners.

As part of the competition’s planning committee, Ahmad was responsible for securing sponsorships, gathering donations, managing finances and creating a budget for the team. She worked closely with the logistics chair to determine the appropriate dispersion of funds during the different stages of the event.

“When I started working with the team, I wasn't sure what I could contribute as a business student. Everyone else had a background in health or science. But of course, the team needed someone to manage their finances and create budgets,” said Ahmad.

Ahmad was supervised by UNB alumni Bea Rivera, who served as delegate and co-chair for Connect the Thoughts from 2020-2023.

Rivera described the positive shift in the team’s dynamic through Ahmad’s influence in her role.

“She was added to the team when we were struggling with the financial aspect of our organization.

“It was amazing to have her because she was very responsive and stepped up to the plate to fulfill her roles and responsibilities as a financial chair. She always had a smile on her face and brought everyone’s energy up,” Rivera said.

Ahmad truly felt the impact her contribution had on the team on competition day.

“It was great to see the event come to fruition,” said Ahmad. “Seeing young minds getting to talk to other professionals about their thought-provoking ideas for our healthcare system.”

During her time with Connect the Thoughts, Ahmad’s team selected a case study involving a couple in need of old-age care. The solution they crafted was related to strategies for managing end-of-life care.

“This is very relevant to New Brunswick and its senior population,” she said.

“It challenged us to think outside of the box. It's very important to create an atmosphere where we're always looking for careful solutions to this issue, as we will also require care when we reach that stage in life.”

Enriching the undergraduate academic experience

For Ahmad, her work with Connect the Thoughts also expanded her outlook on her degree choice and made her realize she could apply the skills she learned across different professional settings.

“I'm glad I spent time with an organization close to the health and science fields because everything else I was doing in school was business-related,” she said.

“This experience showed me the importance of being involved with unfamiliar communities. My schooling was enhanced by this step outside of the business area and I could see how versatile my skills were.”

Rivera highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the program that allowed Ahmad to further explore her professional possibilities.

“My favourite part of the organization is the platform it gives to students like Ahmad,” Rivera said. “They are creative and ready to innovate and take on new challenges.”

Growing through community impact and self-discovery

During the formative years of an undergraduate degree, students learn about their autonomy, discover new limits to their abilities and grow as people.

Ahmad’s journey at UNB consisted of balancing the establishment of her identity in Canada while refining her academic and professional goals.

Through her hard work with Connect the Thoughts, she expanded her knowledge and had a positive influence on the community with her unique skillset and perspectives.

“As UNB students working with Connect the Thoughts, we can be a part of the community that creates solutions to improve our healthcare system. There are those of us involved with the organization who are arts and business students as well.”

“We provide a diverse perspective are able to find a multifaceted answer.”

Ahmad intends to join the workforce to continue building her professional portfolio. She aims to return to academia as a law student after gaining work experience, where she will continue to advocate for other newcomers and students who walk the path toward unlocking their full potential.

“[Ahmad] is a very motivated individual,” says Rivera. “She not only wanted to help, but she strove to do her job well and thoroughly. This is a unique asset she will carry to a future employer and career experience.”

Photo credit: Connect the Thoughts

Photo caption: UNB’s Connect the Thoughts team, from left: Sheridan Hamilton, Nicole Georges, Betina Agas (front), Nour Ahmad, Lexa Monroe, Bea Rivera and Sana Shahzadi