When Maggie Chan walks into the community centre where she works as a youth leader, she knows she’s right where she’s meant to be.

“I get to see youth come back year after year—some who were once shy now leading programs themselves,” says Maggie. “It’s really special to help them grow in confidence and see that they belong.”

A Bachelor of Arts student majoring in psychology with a minor in interpersonal development, Maggie has always been fascinated by the ways people learn, grow and connect. Her passion for psychology began in high school, when she attended BC Children’s Hospital’s Mini Medical School, which that year focused on adolescent mental health.

“I learned about clinical psychology and how mental health affects so many aspects of life,” she recalls. “That experience really opened my eyes to the importance of care and support, especially for young people.”

Now studying at UBC, Maggie hopes to become a school psychologist—helping students navigate challenges inside and outside the classroom. “Mental health is as important as academics,” she says. “When students feel supported, confident and cared for, they can thrive in every part of their learning.”

That commitment to care shines through in Maggie’s work outside the university. For more than two years, she’s led programs across Richmond community centres—supporting youth and young adults. From sports and leadership workshops to a preteen mentorship class she helped pioneer, Maggie brings compassion and creativity to everything she does.

“I always make sure everyone feels included,” she says. “Some kids just need someone to listen or believe in them. Seeing them smile, seeing them grow—it’s incredibly rewarding.”

Her leadership has made an impression. The preteen leadership class she first ran as a pilot program now fills within minutes each season. And the community centre, she says, has become a “second family,” where she’s learned as much from the youth as they have from her.

Behind her success, Maggie is quick to recognize the donors who have helped her along the way. She’s received both the UBC Centennial Entrance Award and the UBC Y.P. Heung Foundation Award in Arts—support she says has made an enormous difference.

“These scholarships lifted a huge financial burden for my family,” says Maggie. “But even more than that, they reminded me that someone out there believed in my story and wanted to support my future. That encouragement means a lot.”

When times get challenging, Maggie often thinks back to those awards. “They’re like support pillars,” she says. “They remind me to keep going—to reach the goals others saw in me.”

For Maggie, that motivation goes beyond personal success. She’s determined to give back to her community—and to UBC—by helping others the way donors helped her.

“I want to contribute to society through psychology, by helping children and youth not only learn but also work on themselves,” she says. “It’s a cycle of investment. Donors invest in us, we learn and grow, and then we invest back into our communities.”

That ripple of impact extends across B.C.—from campus to communities where students like Maggie are shaping healthier, more connected lives.

As UBC continues to expand mental health supports across campus, Maggie’s journey shows how donor generosity fuels that broader vision—empowering students to turn care into action. From new student-centred spaces like the UBC Gateway Building and Recreation Centre North, to plans for expanded recreation facilities at UBC Okanagan, the university is creating environments where wellbeing, belonging and personal growth can thrive—exactly the kind of future Maggie hopes to help build.

“I’m just really grateful,” she says. “Because of donor support, I can focus on becoming the kind of psychologist who helps others find confidence, balance and joy in learning. That’s what I want to give back.”