I have always had a passion for women’s health and reproductive justice. Midwifery felt like the perfect career path for me – I was drawn to a profession that was centred around families and providing holistic maternity care. Midwifery honours labour and birth as a physiologic process through patience and respect, while being equipped with the skills to swiftly manage emergency situations. Providing this type of health care is what attracted me to midwifery.
Moreover, birth and its customs are heavily intertwined with culture. As a Punjabi-Canadian woman, I felt a need to provide culturally competent care to my community. It is empowering to see your own culture, background, or ethnicity within your healthcare provider, and I feel a deep sense of fulfillment in serving families through this transformative process.
Most of my time at UBC was spent in clinical practice throughout different parts of the province. Other than honing my clinical skills in areas like IV placement or cervical assessments, my favourite moment at UBC was finishing first year with my cohort and celebrating together with lunch and laughs at the Vancouver campus.
This program requires dedication and resilience. My advice would be to find your supports and lean on them when needed and don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments. Also – build relationships with people in your cohort. You might make some friends for life.
I’m excited to be joining a midwifery practice in my hometown of Surrey, B.C.! When I’m not catching babies, I hope you’ll find me spending time with my family or travelling the world, starting with Japan later this year!