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• Drive yourself forward! There are so many opportunities out there for you to take your career where you want to go, don’t be afraid to take initiative and try new things. 
• Your academic success is in your hands, the results will reflect the amount of effort put in. 
• Learn how to put boundaries in place for yourself to avoid burnout. 
  • Keep and refer to a schedule, but be flexible and make adjustments if needed.  
  • Know when to step away and give yourself the opportunity to rest.

During her time at Queen’s, Carolyn was involved with the Alma Mater Society, and participated in clubs such as the Queen’s Figure Skating Club. Currently, she continues to stay involved with the Queen’s community through various advisory and mentorship roles. 

Carolyn currently lives in Utah, where she continues to stay involved with the Queen’s community. She founded the Queen’s Alumni Utah Branch in 2023, where she was able to bring together over 40 Queen’s graduates in the region. Carolyn is currently on both the alumni engagement and recognition committees of the Queen’s University Alumni Board, and is also a mentor with the Queen’s Alumni Mentorship Initiative. 

• Personal accountability: You are in charge of how well you do at work and in school, make sure to keep up with your tasks and own up to your mistakes. It’s important to recognize what can be done better the next time around. 
• Interpersonal and networking skills 
  • Take the time to have proper conversations with those you want to learn from, get to know them, inquire about their challenges and experiences, aim to develop a genuine connection. 
• Time management, your class schedule and extracurriculars will naturally help you 

Carolyn completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Queen’s University, before going on to obtain her Masters in Political Science from the University of Toronto, where she also pursued a Business Management Certificate through the Rotman School of Management. Additionally, she is a Prosci-certified Change Practitioner.

• Volunteer work is a great way to get professional development experience that may not be available through traditional employment, and is a great way to give back! 
• Mentorship relations work both ways, and can be extremely rewarding. 
  • Continuously find mentor relationships throughout your life and career! You always need someone who is going to be that advocate and help you believe in yourself, as well as guide you in the right direction.
• Stay in touch with your faculty and friends who are alumni, they might be involved in some fun opportunities you’d like to take part in as well.

• Keep trying new things and putting yourself out there intentionally, explore different clubs and activities, that’s how you grow and discover what you enjoy doing!
• Prepare strategically before jumping into anything new, whether it’s a club, course, or some other leadership role. Understand what you’re getting into and how you can position yourself to succeed, being prepared can make new experiences feel far less overwhelming.
• Imagine what the worst possible realistic scenario is instead of an exaggerated, hypothetical worst case scenario. The realistic outcome is often less intimidating than what you imagine, allowing you to approach challenges with confidence. 
• Use your voice to positively shape your university and community. If you care about an issue, don’t underestimate your ability to advocate for change. Reaching out to local representatives or organizations, such as the student government, is a simple way to get involved.

During her time at Queen’s, Michelle was involved with the Queen’s Model UN and Queen’s Model Parliament. She continues to draw on the speaking, negotiation, and presentation skills she developed through these clubs in her career today.

Michelle currently works as a Planning Policy Officer working on the local plan for the city of London Corporation in England. Her policy expertise spans office planning, active transportation, freight movement, and infrastructure. In this role, she engages with various stakeholders, researches best practices and spatial trends using GIS, and also writes planning policy that shapes the future of offices in London. Michelle works with the UK's Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, testing new automation processes to improve the process of plan making, and with the Transport of London. 

Prior to this experience, Michelle contributed to strategic planning initiatives in Ontario. Her work included multimodal transportation planning for the Greater Golden Horseshoe area up to 2050, a long-term vision for industrial lands in Hamilton, and a new policy framework supporting age and ability friendly development in Markham.

• Collaboration is key, and working closely with people from different backgrounds and expertise helps projects succeed and brings new perspectives to the work.
  • As a policy manager, Michelle often collaborates with development management planners, transportation planners, image designers, accessibility planners, archaeologists, lawyers, data scientists, and communication professionals.
• Strong speaking and presenting skills are very important for this role. There are often instances where you have to speak to large rooms of people with varying opinions, and convince them that the proposed approach is the best solution. 
• Strong communication, writing, and research skills are highly relevant! The same abilities used to build arguments, find evidence, and make connections in academic work directly translate into writing policy papers and interpreting trends. 

Michelle obtained her Bachelor of Arts and Religious Studies from Queen’s University, and pursued her Masters of Planning from Toronto Metropolitan University. 

• Always do things that spark your interest, even if they seem unconventional at the time, because those choices often lead to unexpected knowledge and learning experiences that become very valuable later on.
• Don’t be afraid of the unknown! Big changes feel scary, but being prepared and focusing on realistic outcomes can help you take risks that lead to growth. 
• Adapting your approach to suit different people, whether that be through one-on-one conversations, group discussions, or open feedback, is the key to working effectively with others and gathering needed input for the task at hand.

• Give yourself grace and be patient, finding your community often happens organically. Things will work out, even if they start off on the wrong foot. 
• Seek out campus spaces that support both your identity and community. Programs like those offered at the Yellow House can help you access needed resources, meet students with shared experiences, and build a sense of belonging from your first year at Queen’s.
• Be open to stepping outside your comfort zone. Getting involved, exploring the campus and city, and meeting new people can help you find support and community, even if things don’t feel right at first.

During her time at Queen’s, Rukevwe served as the Black Inclusion Lead at the Yellow House Centre for Student Equity and Inclusion, where she co-founded the Black at Queen’s Program. She also served as the undergraduate representative on the University Council on Anti-Racism and Equity (UCARE), was also the third year representative for the Black Queen’s Academic Society, and the events director for the Queen’s Black Fashion Association. She was also a member of the Queen’s Health Science Dean’s EDI Roundtable Learner Action Committee, where she contributed research on equitable admission pathways for the Health Science’s program. 

Rukevwe is in her first year of medical school. She currently serves as the senior advisor for Queen’s Cancer Kids First and works as a research assistant in the emergency department at Kingston Health Sciences Centre. She is also a co-investigator on the Queen’s Health Science Anti-Racist Curriculum and Clinical Algorithms initiative, which focuses on developing anti-racist teaching frameworks for health professions education. In addition, she is a research lead at Queen’s University, investigating healthcare access for Black communities in Canada.

• Community building 
  • Make an effort to connect with others and be inclusive, help create spaces where people feel supported and valued in academic and professional settings.
• Take initiative! 
  • Don’t wait to be told what to do, put yourself out there, try new things, and take on challenges even if they feel uncomfortable at first.

Rukevwe received her Bachelor’s of Health Science from Queen’s University, and is currently a MD (Doctor of Medicine) student at the University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine. 

• If you’re a first generation student or come from a community with limited exposure to certain careers, alumni can fill that gap by sharing advice and encouragement, helping expand your network and offering mentorship. 
• As an alumni, continue to stay engaged with student groups and share your experiences. Acting as a mentor or role model can guide current students to achieving success, and strengthen the community you were once part of.