2023 LBN Scholarship Recipients
Samantha Pang ($500)
Samantha started volunteering as a math mentor with the Learning Buddies Network in the spring of 2017. Throughout the years, she has stayed with LBN as a Program Coordinator, Executive Coordinator, and a member of the Program Team. She has a strong interest in pediatric health and education, and LBN has been an excellent opportunity for her to gain direct and invaluable experience.
Samantha is entering the last year of her Bachelor's Degree in Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia. Her main goal is to work with the pediatric population, where she can continuously advocate for improving pediatric healthcare. She also wants to work with foundations that expand access and availability of healthcare, ensuring that all families receive adequate information and education on pediatric physical, mental, and social health. For her last year in the Honours program, she will continue researching the association between demographics and the biopsychosocial health of children and its effects on pediatric postoperative outcomes.
LBN has provided many opportunities for Samantha to work directly with children and connect with other volunteers, staff, and board members. All these experiences and connections have allowed her to get to where she is today; for that, she will always be thankful for LBN.
Parsa Tabassi ($200)
Parsa volunteered with the Learning Buddies Network from 2020 to spring of 2023 and has worked in the roles of remote Reading Mentor, Reading Program Coordinator, and Reading Executive Coordinator. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2022 and hopes to pursue a career in medicine. His fulfilling experiences teaching and interacting with children at LBN have motivated him to explore the pediatrics branch of medicine once he attends medical school.
For Parsa, connecting with the buddies and facilitating their growth represented the most rewarding aspects of volunteering with LBN. He truly valued being able to help children who had difficulties in reading to make meaningful improvements by creating a fun, positive learning environment. He also greatly enjoyed guiding mentors as a coordinator and passing on his experiences to help facilitate a productive and fulfilling experience for others.
Parsa is honoured to have been chosen as a recipient of a 2023 LBN Scholarship and is grateful to all of the amazing buddies, volunteers, and staff at LBN for providing him such impactful experiences and opportunities.
Zhixi (CC) Liang ($200)
CC has been volunteering with Learning Buddies Network since 2020 and has been a remote reading and math mentor, Program Coordinator, Executive Coordinator, Language Support Team member, and Program Team member. At the same time, she is involved with website rebranding and helps take on new projects within LBN. Witnessing the growth of the buddies, mentors, and herself, she is extremely grateful for the opportunities at LBN, which allow her to foster in-demand skills such as mentoring, translating, template and website building, networking, and grant-writing skills. The satisfaction she gains by supporting buddies, including the Indigenous and the learning disabled, motivates her to recognize the importance of education and therapy in children.
CC is a Bachelor of Science (major in Cognitive Systems: Cognition and Brain and minor in music) plus Master of Management student at the University of British Columbia. With an ultimate pursuit of musicology, she aims to use support to promote a higher quality of life and restore traditional music. In her free time, you can find her playing the piano, taking courses on Coursera, or taking a walk with her family. Lastly, as a member of this valuable community, CC wants to give a big thank you to everyone at LBN who motivates and helps her grow. In return, she would love to contribute to LBN even more!
Ravleen Gill ($200)
Ravleen has been actively involved as a volunteer with LBN from September 2020 until May 2023. She has undertaken various roles within the organization, including mentor, Program Coordinator, Executive Coordinator, Program Team member, and Language Support Team member. These diverse experiences at LBN have played a pivotal role in her personal growth as a leader, equipping her with invaluable opportunities to learn, support, guide, and thrive in different capacities.
Her involvement with the Learning Buddies Network has left a profound impact on Ravleen's academic aspirations as a science student at UBC, fueling her determination to pursue a career in medicine. Working closely with children from diverse backgrounds and with varying abilities has challenged her to communicate effectively, adapting her approach to cater to their unique needs. This rewarding experience has not only enhanced her ability to connect with others but has also imparted a deep understanding of empathy and compassion-qualities crucial in a healthcare setting, where effective patient communication and rapport are paramount.
Ravleen expresses her heartfelt gratitude to the Learning Buddies Network for the exceptional opportunities, unwavering support, and invaluable mentorship provided throughout her years of involvement. LBN has proven to be a nurturing and transformative environment that has empowered her to develop essential skills, expand her knowledge, and forge lasting connections with fellow volunteers and the children she has worked with.