Yash Sharma
Yash Sharma at La Rambla in Barcelona, Spain: July 2022 (photo supplied)
Spotlight on Members of the Trinity Community: Yash Sharma
Posted March 27, 2023
Each year, an impressive number of Trinity College students receive the annual U of T Student Leadership Awards (UTSLA), which recognize graduating students for outstanding student leadership, volunteer service, and commitment to the university broadly and to their own division. Among Trinity’s 2023 UTSLA recipients is Yash Sharma.
“I’m really honored to have been nominated by Trinity College and receive the 2023 Student Leadership Award (UTSLA). I hope my actions inspire future students to actively engage within their communities and pursue careers within the Life Sciences!” Yash Sharma said. “Much of my success comes from those around me, particularly my family – my mom, dad, and brother, along with some very close high school and Trinity College friends. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing group of people.”
Yash is not only involved in a vast array of activities outside the classroom – he takes on many volunteer leadership roles with academic associations, sports clubs, social outreach organizations and student life groups. His leadership roles within the Trinity College community have allowed him to serve as an advocate for others and help bridge gaps between students of diverse backgrounds. “Trinity College has become a second home over the past three years, and as such, I’ve dedicated much of my time towards forming bonds with peers, the creation of a welcoming atmosphere, and contributing to the enhancement and refinement of college culture,” Yash said.
We recently chatted with Yash to learn more about his university experience.
Update – June 14, 2023: At the Trinity College Graduation Awards Ceremony 2023, Yash received The William McMurtry Award in Athletics – congratulations!
#TrinityGrad23: Yash Sharma
- Program of Study: Neuroscience Specialist; Immunology Minor and Physiology Minor
- Hometown: Toronto
Trinity College (TC): How did you get interested in the sciences?
Yash Sharma (YS): In general, I’ve always been interested in biology and chemistry courses that require analytical thinking and problem solving. However, my passion for a career in the medical sciences was fostered through numerous clinical and hospital positions. One in particular that stands out was my internship in the Dominican Republic where I was able to work firsthand with patients and doctors in the surgical and emergency wards.
TC: What have you learned the most from your student leadership and volunteer service experiences?
YS: I think my biggest takeaways have been the importance of pursuing interests that I’m passionate about and connecting with the wider community. Student leadership and volunteering provide opportunities for personal growth and allow for the exploration of activities outside academics. Doing what you love also helps balance your schedule, which is incredibly important in getting the most out of your university experience.
TC: Are there any accomplishments or awards that you are particularly proud of?
YS: I’m particularly proud of my work at the Bilingual and Multilingual Lab at the University of Toronto, which is tied to the Faculty of Medicine. In addition, some of my research into language lateralization is going to be published soon! Finally, I think the award I’m most proud of is the Lucy Connolly Endowment to the Sciences, a grant for those interested in clinical research.
TC: Can you tell us more about your upcoming research paper?
YS: Language lateralization primarily refers to the phenomenon in which different brain regions are specialized for language processing, and usually this refers to a single hemisphere. However, the paper I am working on is trying to test the Inhibitory Control Model hypothesis that suggests bilingual individuals may have more effective language processing due to managing the demands of competing language systems.
TC: What are your favourite Trinity memories?
YS: Some of my fondest Trinity College memories are studying in the quad, eating meals at Strachan Hall, late night walks to Zaad (a shawarma place near campus), and the orientation parade through downtown Toronto. In my first year, the COVID pandemic began, so it’s amazing to be able to explore campus with friends and make more memories before graduation.
TC: Any words of advice for current students?
YS: Some words of advice for current students are to be curious, explore your love for learning, and pursue what you are interested in. University is about trying new things (and perhaps failing along the way) and learning what you love so you can spend the rest of your career on it. If you don’t get something right away, keep trying and ask for help from those around you. I promise it will pay off.
TC: How can students get the most of their student experience at university?
YS: Time management is probably the biggest skill I’ve learned over my university years. I’m a firm believer in making the time for things you love doing because I think taking breaks and focusing on yourself will help in your day-to-day work. In terms of getting the most out of university, I like to schedule all my tasks throughout a week so I can see how much time I have for extracurriculars or going to the gym. I find that really helps. Also, joining clubs and volunteering are great ways to meet new people and expand your skill set at the same time.
TC: What are your future plans?
YS: My current future plans are to complete a Clinical Neuroscience Masters in Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration. Afterwards, my plans are still unclear however, I would love to pursue an MD to tie research and clinical experiences together.
TC: Outside of class, what would we find you doing?
YS: Outside of class, you can find me listening to music, walking around downtown Toronto, working out, or playing chess. I also love cooking and make it a point to try new restaurants and cuisines with friends.
TC: What are some fun facts about yourself?
YS: I compete in both badminton and skiing. Traveling is also a big hobby and I’m currently debating between a Europe or Asia trip for the upcoming summer!
TC: Best lesson(s) you’ve learned during COVID that you will continue post-pandemic?
YS: Best lesson I learned during COVID is to prioritize family and spend more time with friends and loved ones. University can be pretty stressful, but having a good support system makes it much better!
