When Ellie Szkwyra (BSc '22, BEd '24, MEd '25) first applied to Brock University, it wasn't part of a grand plan. In fact, she nearly didn't apply at all.
Growing up in Richmond Hill, Szkwyra had her sights set on forensic science. But at the last minute, she applied to Brock's Concurrent Teacher Education program, which would quietly change the trajectory of her life.
"I honestly can't pinpoint exactly what changed my mind," she said. "But I'm incredibly grateful that it did. Choosing Brock turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made."
Seven years later, Szkwyra is crossing the stage a third time to obtain her Master of Education with a concentration in Social Justice, all while teaching full time with the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) and wrapping up her final season as a varsity lacrosse player.
Szkwyra's journey at Brock has spanned multiple eras, from pre-COVID lecture halls to remote learning and back, each chapter marked by growth and reinvention.
"I joined the Brock women's lacrosse team in my fifth year," she said. "I was the oldest player on the field but also the newest. It was intimidating at first, but those years on the team were some of the most rewarding of my university experience."
Szkwyra grew into a leadership role over her three seasons with the team, finding community and purpose on and off the field.
That same sense of purpose followed her into the classroom. As a Physical and Health Education teacher, she was quick to notice the inequities which exist for many students, especially in access to sport and physical activity.
"I've seen so many kids without gym clothes or running shoes, or who don't have the means to play sports outside of school," she said. "That's what drives me, learning how to break down those barriers and then applying that knowledge the very next day in my teaching."
Szkwyra credits Brock's Master of Education program for helping her sharpen that focus, particularly through its emphasis on real-world issues and reflective practice.
"One underrated aspect of Teacher Education at Brock is how relevant it is," she said. "Now that I'm in the field, I'll be sitting in staff meetings thinking, 'I literally just learned this at Brock last year.' That kind of alignment is something I didn't appreciate until I saw it in action."
It was a course on equity, diversity and inclusion taught by Associate Professor Leanne Taylor that first opened Szkwyra's eyes to the possibilities of social justice education, a turning point that reshaped how she perceived her role as a teacher.
"I stopped seeing teaching as just delivering content and started seeing it as a way to contribute to meaningful change," she said.
She also found inspiration in instructors Jason Dorinzi and Rob Di Persio, who modelled the kind of compassionate, student-focused teaching she now strives to emulate in her own classroom.
Outside of coursework, Szkwyra's summers working with Brock Recreation's Summer Camps sharpened her interest in leadership and educational administration.
"In that role, I learned how much I enjoy being part of something bigger. Organizing, leading and supporting teams," she said. "It really sparked my interest in moving into leadership roles in education."
After crossing the stage at Brock's 117th Convocation, Szkwyra reflected on the university experience that changed her life.
"I feel like I've lived multiple lives here," she said. "Each one brought something new, but the people, the community and the sense of purpose I discovered have never left me."
