Zoë McKay is a Grade 12 adult education student whose resilience, determination, and academic excellence have been shaped by profound personal challenges. She left school in eighth grade to help her family care for her mother during immense struggles with addiction and mental health, and later experienced the loss of her father.

Despite these hardships—and years spent battling a debilitating auto-inflammatory gastrointestinal disease—she has returned to her studies with renewed passion and purpose. Her lived experiences have inspired a deep commitment to medical research, particularly in neuroscience and biochemistry, where she hopes to contribute to the development of life-changing treatments. Zoë plans to begin her studies in Biochemistry at the University of Winnipeg, with the goal of transferring into the Neuroscience program and completing a 4-year Honours BSc to prepare for independent and collaborative research.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Zoë is an active community volunteer. She has contributed to organizations such as the Good Food Club, the Women’s Health Clinic, and political campaigns that align with her values, and has participated in peer support groups for survivors of suicide loss. She also mentors classmates by offering academic help, sharing resources, and guiding them toward opportunities for stability and success.  

Motivated by a desire to advance medical innovations that can restore hope and improve quality of life, Zoë aims to use her education and research to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.