Chris Mireault

Amherstburg, Ontario
Graduating with an Honours BSc. in Chemistry and Physics and a minor in Mathematics

How did you pick your major of study, and why did you choose the University of Windsor?

Coming out of high school I really enjoyed the natural sciences, leading me to choose my degree in Chemistry and Physics. I had considered many other Institutions within Ontario and the United States, however, the amazing research and scholarship opportunities that the University of Windsor had to offer (most notably the Outstanding Scholars program), in addition to the world-renowned cutting-edge research that takes place in the Chemistry and Biochemistry department, led me to choose Windsor as the University that suited me best.

What were your expectations of university? Has the University of Windsor met those expectations?

My expectations coming into university, similar to many other students who enter higher-learning institutions, were to gain knowledge in the areas that interested me most in order to someday apply them or help me reach my future occupation, and to live out the full student experience of an undergraduate education. I feel that Windsor did a great job in meeting my expectations, as I am about to graduate with a world-class degree. While the University of Windsor isn't ranked as one of the top "party" schools in the nation, the many local establishments, lively cultural experiences and the overwhelming amount of recreational activities in Windsor and surrounding areas left me with many life experiences I will never forget.

What would you say is the most important thing you have learned at university: about yourself, about other people, about your field of study, or about the world?

There were many valuable lessons that I had learned over the course of my time here at the University of Windsor. Whether it was founding the Lancer Baseball Club and seeing it flourish into one of the best baseball programs in the nation, or participating in innovative research as part of Dr. Schurko's solid-state NMR group, I learned that there are limitless opportunities when collaborating and working together as a team with some of the many willing, brilliant, talented and dedicated students, faculty and staff here at the University of Windsor.

What would you say has been the most memorable part of your UWindsor experience?

The University of Windsor is a very multicultural institution. The diversity on campus really opened up my eyes to the many amazing cultures that are present in the community and around the world. The added benefit of becoming familiar and knowledgeable about a wide array of cultures will help me in many of my future aspirations when collaborating and interacting with many different ethnic groups. Overall, the entire experience here at the University of Windsor was great and I am extremely happy with my choice.

Please tell us why you are proud to be part of the University of Windsor’s graduating class of 2011.

I am extremely proud to be graduating in the class of 2011 here at the University of Windsor. Not only are we a class that is graduating the 100,000th graduate of the University of Windsor, but we have created friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime, all while gaining top notch degrees and pursuing our life-long goals. It will be bitter-sweet leaving the Windsor campus in June, but the experiences and friendships that I have gained here will never be forgotten.

Did you have a course, professor or classmate who inspired you?

I cannot narrow it down to a single course, professor or classmate that inspired me most. I had many influential and enthusiastic peers and professors, all of whom encouraged me to pursue my goals, and gave me the confidence to excel in many difficult and demanding situations. I would like to add, however, that there were a number of people who I had never met prior to coming to university, and now they are some of my closest companions and I know that the friendships we have made will last a lifetime.

What are your plans following graduation?

A few days after convocation in June, I will be heading to Europe to travel and explore the many different cultures of Greece, France, Italy and Turkey. Next September, I plan to continue my studies, but this time in the field of medicine, as I hope to be accepted into an MD program in Ontario.