Okay, so I guess we'll just start right away. Yeah, starting off. Do you want to talk a bit about your upbringing? Maybe I know you grew up in Toronto, Ontario, but maybe if you want to highlight what your family life was like, or maybe like what the community was like where you grew up?
Yeah, so like, I grew up. Like it's kind of like, I guess I grew up with a single mom for like 12 years of my life. And then 12 years it was like, my mom, and then my two sisters. And then after that, I got a stepdad and then I have two more sisters, four sisters and
and I guess, like my community is pretty chill. Like it's nothing too crazy. I play basketball a lot. Back then. Oh, as much now like the workload, I guess. But yeah, like a pretty tight knit community. You know, I have a lot of people to lean on. Thankfully, because of that, I got a scholarship to go to the school. So I'm very fortunate to have them
Yeah. Do you want to talk about basketball a bit more? Or maybe I think I read online that you were also into, like swimming. How did that kind of form your earlier years or maybe shaped like a bit of who you are today.
It was just a way to keep me out of trouble. So like, if I wasn't in class or at home, I was in the gym, and basketball. It really helped like shaped the way I conduct myself because the coach I had like he brings the kids don't like I guess discipline and being able to communicate. Like I guess like everyday life, we're working as a team. So yeah, it wasn't for basketball. I don't think I would be where I am right now.
Yeah, on that note, do you have any, like, mentors that you would say like in your early life that also shaped that educational journey whether that is your coach or your mother growing up or maybe your stepdad or siblings
education I'd say it was like it was I guess like four people so like, yeah, of course my mom my stepdad was also my basketball coach. And my guidance counselor, she was he was a key part in me actually coming in because she helped me out with like applications and references and stuff. So yeah, for sure. It was my guidance counselor, and then my coach, because he was the one who like I guess. Like younger see, what was that most important? And like how, like that's taking for granted I guess. So. Like, yeah, without him and my guidance constant. Left I look a lot different for me.
Yeah, I'm kind of helped me like paint a picture of that. Would you say that like you were always like in academic student growing up or because you are a part of that beyond Vollers program. Now, so was cool. Something that you were always kind of good at growing up, or is that something that you kind of fostered along the way?
No, I was always I guess I was always a bookworm. I was always like, into school like I love science. But like, I didn't I didn't really know about union. I didn't really think about university until like later on. Like, I just, I don't know, I guess like I was I knew I was good at school, but I didn't consider University options related but like basketball was the thing that I kind of fostered growing up was just help with my school, I guess.
On that note, I guess what made you want to come to UBC in particular
the main like the one of the main reasons why I wanted to come here was because a lot of my family or basically all of my family is kind of like stuck in tech, I want to say stuck, but their whole lives have been in Ontario or like within like a very specific region of Toronto. And I didn't want to, I guess I want to like I guess break a little barrier, like generationally and kind of venture off outside of Ontario, Toronto to kind of experience life for Christ's sake, you know, different Providence. And then I got a scholarship here, which is even better. So those are like my two main factors of coming here.
Talking about that generational barrier, did your parents go to post secondary school or anything or were you first generation?
No, I'm a first generation University. Student.
Yeah, I guess more on that. What kind of role does that play in your everyday life? Kind of being able to not only have the opportunity to pursue post secondary education but also does that hold a lot of significance to you?
Yeah, because of how my little sisters kind of see me like they see me in university doing my thing. They don't see me as often but like, I feel like because I'm doing what I'm doing now. It kind of gives them like the encouragement. Like, what's the word? Yeah, I guess they encourage them to kind of take school more seriously and that like, this is something that they can do, as well.
I'm talking a bit about UBC now, you're in your second year. Is that right? And what are you specializing in? I think online it said biomedical engineering but it's not still accurate or something.
I'm in chemical engineering. Okay. Um,
yeah. What made you want to pick that and how are you finding it so far?
I say that because initially I was I wanted to go to med school. So biomedical engineering was kind of, you know, I guess. Like, no brainer. Yeah. But like I didn't really enjoy it, I guess how the program was structured. So, I chose like the second best thing which is chemical engineering because like in terms of sciences, chemistry is like my favorite. It's getting close rates. Go one size that I really enjoyed doing, and then all the other ones that are also like good, but overall, like I feel like it's, I'm learning a lot and I'm learning a lot of things that I'm actually interested in. So it's going pretty well outside of the general steps of engineering.
Yeah. How would you say like your first year and now a little bit of your second year was for you in terms of that? High school is university adjustment or anything like notable within your first year?
Yeah. Transitioning from high school to first year it was like extremely overwhelming. I got it. I was always stress. You know, I got a little depressed throughout the school year last year. But reflecting on my state of mind from last year, and my state of mind now like it's a complete 180 Like I feel like I'm a lot happier and well adjusted for the university life now than I was last year. And I guess it's slightly easier to deal with stress, but that kind of know what to expect.
What would you say kind of helped you with that? Like one at transition was there like, specific people in your life or friends that you made? Or was it more of like a personal adjustment
or personal adjustment because, like I was really I was really like I was like, I can't I feel like I can do a little bit too much on the wrong things. So it just like, reinforced a lot of, I guess, hidden anxiety. But like once I realized that it's okay to have like one bad I guess, like midterm season nor just one bad like, pest taking day it was it kind of helped me. Like get past all of the issues I had from last year.
Yeah. And now that you are in chemical engineering, do you say that like medical school is like no longer something that like you're interested in? Right?
Yeah.
Yeah. So what would you say like, would be that like new path that you're taking now? Is there like anything like in particular about like that you really know that you want to do in your life or anything?
Yeah, so I said that medical school is like out of the picture, I guess for me and career but I still want to kind of be involved in like the medical field or community so like, I'm really interested in pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. So I feel like I hopefully that's something that I get to get myself involved in, in the future.
Yeah, I'm talking now a bit more about the beyond tomorrow. Scholars Program. I'm like not, I don't not really sure like what the program is like in particular, but like, not sure if this question apply. So is there like anyone in your cohort that you feel like has inspired you or like just being a part of that in general? What does that sort of mean to you?
Just a part of this scholarship, like, just being involved in that? It's just a part of like that scholarship community. It's like more important in terms of how like, the people back in my community, kind of like the people in my high school, but like I was, I was the only person to leave Ontario and my graduating class, and I was the only one that had a scholarship in the 1000 other age. So I feel like being a part of my scholarship kind of, to kind of shed light on what you can do. Growing up in a community like I did
there The answer is you your question.
No, it did. I think I was just like looking at like the program in general. And I think I was just like, yeah, like, do you ever like are there like things that you guys do like with other people in that cohort? Or is there like more of like an like individual
like, is like we do this yearly retreat? Yeah. I did it last year. And it's what we did is like, Oh, we kind of like bond so we got really like, like even said like, we are like really deep conversation. I feel like it kind of like solidified, I guess, like similar experiences or emotions that everyone was experiencing. And
talking a bit about this piece is also for to commemorate Latin American Heritage Month. So I guess some questions revolving around that would be like, what role did your heritage play in your life while you were growing up?
Well, obviously it played a very big role because of like, just overall house raised like because I was raised. I'm Colombian and Jamaican but I only really know my good side of my family. So they're just values that my Nana, I guess, holds. She kind of like she made sure that I wasn't like a bad person, I guess. And I like I just like I had morals. And then I grew up knowing like, what kind of I don't know how to answer that question.
Yeah, um, would you say that that's sort of like changed throughout the years like, is your heritage something that like? Like guides your day to day actions, or how's it been something that's like evolved? Over time? Like, I know some people like growing up they like neglected their heritage a bit and then like when they get older, like it becomes something a bit more central in their life. Do you relate to any of that or would you say that like you have like a different relationship with it.
Oh, been a very key part in my life. I guess sometimes you like, kind of like food. Like I am a really big I like to eat so enjoy eating like, like food from my culture. And I hope that it's something that I can continue on with, I guess my future in terms of like sharing it with other people. Like it is something that I would shy away from.
Yeah. And then kind of wrapping it up, I would say what kind of advice would you give someone who is maybe like from your hometown, or someone who is looking to be a first generational post secondary university student, maybe based off of like lessons that you've learned along the way or advice that someone else has given to you in the past?
Yeah, I don't know. I'm drawing a blank.
No, I mean, for sure. Like think about it or that could be like whether it's something that like your family instilled in you or like a guiding principle that your basketball coach told you or maybe something even like, in your first year when you were getting through that adjustment that you kind of learned yourself that you wish that you knew earlier or you feel like could help someone like in a similar position
I guess Okay, so like, I was calling because my grades like I was really nervous. About how my grades are look, high school. And oh, my goodness, constantly kind of drilled into my head was it didn't matter. Because first year is going to be hard for like a lot of people. So like, I guess, kind of relaying that for it like, because people in my community or just in general who want to go into university. Your grades aren't all that important. Like, of course you want to do well but like, as long as you're passing or you get into the program you want to get into like it's it's a win at the end of the day.
Yeah, I don't really know if you want to elaborate on this maybe a little bit more. But I think earlier you were talking about how like, you were like a bit depressed in your first year. What do you think was like a key contributing factor that helped you get through that?
And I guess I just finding my other workers. Just getting through it. I feel like because I didn't really play like I didn't do the things I enjoy. Like normally like with what I do in high school. I think basketball was kind of like something to like calm me down or to like it's like a stress reliever kind of thing. And I didn't really do that in first year. So I feel like just not just like not letting go of the things that you enjoy doing or like the things that help you relax. It's something that's super important. So like, yeah, just make sure you do especially like just make sure you do the stuff that you like. Because to be honest, like score first year, is it something that you'd realistically enjoy? So if every day is just negativity and you have no positive outlet? It's kind of gonna be hard.
Yeah, definitely. Was there. Anything changed?
Can you do that instead? Sketch the thing I said before
Oh, what was that you are shopping so add the scratch the thing about how you're talking about like, first year is not that important? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, sure. Okay, yeah. Um, was there anything else that you kind of wanted to add or talk about? Your journey to UBC that you felt that you didn't really get to touch on? No, not really. Okay. Yeah, I guess those were all the main questions that I had for you, unless you had any other questions that you want to ask him?
To answer your questions.
Yeah. And then Oh, finally, like a bit more of a logistical thing but do you go by Ivan Korea Macintosh because I also saw that online or is it just I've been okay. So is the are the last two like, you're like both your last names or is that like,
Macintosh is my last names.
Okay. Yeah, thank you for your time today. I know Stefanelli really hard, squeezing and even like a quick phone call. I have a lot of friends in engineering that are like, super busy, especially as they get out of the first year. A lot of those courses start getting a lot heavier. So thank you again for making that time. For sure. Yeah, unless there was anything else that you wanted to say then that would be all on my part.
Thank you for having this conversation.
Yeah, no problem. Thank you, Ivan. Enjoy the rest of your week. Oh my god.
