Meet a 2021 Peer Mentor:

Hello! I’m Rachel (she/her), a fourth-year Environmental Design student specializing in Interior Design, and this is my first year being a Peer Mentor!

I’m currently living in Prince Edward County in Ontario with my family. I’ve been spending my summer working as an intern for a local interior design firm and spending my free time with my puppy (@winston.the.dooh if you want a healthy dose of puppy fever!)

As a previous Student Monitor for Office of Diversity, Equity & Sustainability Initiatives (ODESI) and co-founder of the OCAD reuse student group (@ocad_reuse) my interest in sustainability plays a big role in a lot of my work. However, this past year I learned that my favourite part of a project is developing the concept that drives it!

I’ve had a few good experiences come from online learning. As someone who has lived off campus for a year, on campus for a year, then had a remote year, this past school year was an unexpected but adaptable experience. Without access to campus I’ve learned to be more resourceful with what I have on hand and with it now being more necessary for classes, I finally had a reason to improve my CAD skills. But my favourite part about online learning has been that the time I would spend commuting are now my breaks; as someone who has always had trouble scheduling in break time, this has really helped keep me sane!

“Transient Permanence” by Rachel Morris. A project for Retail and Hospitality.

I’m so excited to be entering my thesis year and finally participating in GradEx next year! I remember when I first came to OCAD and went to see the Graduate Exhibition and  it was so inspiring seeing the graduating students’ work. Participating felt like a world away and I hope the incoming students are as excited for it as I was!

Instagram: @fusrodie
OCAD U Student Mentor Program