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Supported by UNB’s close‑knit community, study abroad opportunities, and hands‑on research, science graduate Dria McKenna discovered new passions, new places, and a future in wildlife biology.

As the final few grades load onto my transcript and I submit my robe and regalia rental forms, I’ve been reflecting not just on the work I put into completing my bachelor of science degree on the University of New Brunswick’s Fredericton campus, but on how I’ve been shaped by the opportunities and experiences afforded to me over the course of my degree.

My UNB experience started later than most of my peers, during the second semester of my first year. I had transferred from Dalhousie University after starting my degree during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I came to UNB in search of the tight-knit and welcoming community I had heard so much about.

Despite worrying that transferring partway through first year would leave me feeling behind compared to my peers, I was quickly met with warm smiles and open arms, finding commonality across the campus grounds and a sense of belonging among the crowded lecture halls.

It’s this warm and inviting Maritime camaraderie and strong sense of community that makes UNB feel so special.

I found a group of friends who soon took on secondary roles of roommates, took classes that sparked interests I never knew I had, and claimed a favourite desk in the Harriet Irving Library that saw me through countless late-night study sessions over the next four years.

Although I’d begun my undergraduate degree certain of my love for science, I was unsure of the career path where my studies would eventually lead me. Still, I felt confident in the supportive nature of the university’s academic environment and trusted early on that it would guide me along the right path.

During the third year of my undergraduate degree, I decided to complete an honours thesis in wildlife biology—a task so far outside of my academic comfort zone that, at the time, I felt unsure I was capable of.

It took a support network of honours thesis co-ordinators, academic advisors, and—most crucially—my supervisor, to help bring my thesis to life. By the time summer rolled around, I was out in the field studying wood turtles.

By no means was my honours thesis an easy task, but the hours of hard work I poured into it were met with a quickly growing passion for studying wildlife. My work was also rewarded with the opportunity to contribute to academia, as my supervisor and I work this summer to publish our research.

That experience significantly shifted the direction of my career path by introducing me to scientific research and setting me on the route toward becoming a wildlife biologist.

My time at UNB was also shaped by the opportunity to spend a semester abroad during my third year.

Through the support of the UNB Global Learning & Engagement Office, which worked diligently to make my move across an ocean possible, I was able to spend half a year in Austria. Living abroad allowed me to reconnect with my love of travelling and discovering the world—a passion that was first sparked during my time living in Norway as a child.

Studying in Austria was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, teaching me far more than I ever could have learned in the comfort of home. I found a sense of belonging in a new and unfamiliar corner of the world, forming lifelong relationships with people from all backgrounds and walks of life that have shaped me in ways I continue to carry with me.

Through scholarships and bursaries, I was able to travel across Europe, broadening my outlook on the world as I encountered a range of new cultures and customs.

During my semester abroad, I also made time for hiking and backpacking, as I found myself living in a city just a short train ride from the Austrian Alps. My love for hiking flourished through weekly 2000-metre summits—experiences that will remain a lasting part of who I am.

While I couldn’t replace the Alps, I discovered my passion for rock climbing with the UNB Ice and Rock Climbing Club when I returned home. What began as an escape from the chaos of fourth year grew into a lifestyle.

The opportunity to be part of the inner operations of UNB came in the summer after my second year, when I landed an internship with the university’s Strategic Communications & Marketing office.

As a content writer, I was able to connect with members of the university community, highlighting their diverse stories and the ways they contribute to its liveliness.

As a science student, working as a writer felt like a daunting task, but the uplifting nature of the SCM team allowed me to expand on skills I didn’t know I had—and certainly didn’t realize how much I enjoyed using.

Among the red-brick buildings overlooking the Wolastoq, I found space to bring together my love for adventure, creativity, and connection.

Throughout these past four years, I’ve made a conscious effort to fully embrace my time at UNB, both socially and academically, welcoming opportunities that have helped define the person I’ve become.

I’ve discovered new interests, built meaningful relationships with peers and faculty, and developed a genuine love for learning about the world around me.

With the supportive academic environment of the UNB community, my love for learning motivated me to commit myself fully to my studies, achieving far more than I ever imagined I could when I first wandered onto campus, unsure of what lay ahead of me.

As if the sense of accomplishment and personal achievement wasn’t enough, my hard work was further rewarded by the university with countless scholarships, Dean’s List awards, and an honours designation.

By taking advantage of the many opportunities UNB offers, I was able to shape my undergraduate degree in a way that felt right for me.

Now I get to begin a new adventure, as I cross the graduation stage and step into my gap year.

My semester abroad sparked my love for outdoor adventure, and I’m now planning my move to British Columbia so I can once again be surrounded by mountains, and spend my time hiking, climbing, skiing, and trail running.

A year from now, I’ll be hitting the open road as I pack my belongings into a converted van and set off on a four-month road trip with my boyfriend—who I met during my semester abroad.

As we travel across Canada and the U.S., we’ll make our way through as many national parks as we can, in search of the best rock climbing spots.

After my gap year, I’ll begin a new university journey as I pursue a master’s degree in wildlife biology, building on the experience I gained through my honours thesis.

As I look back on my time at UNB, I see now that it gave me the space and support to evolve and expand into who I am now, and that the experiences it offered me play a role in shaping who I’ll become.

UNB Newsroom stories Dria wrote during her internship as a content writer!

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