Etobicoke native Alex Finlayson, a third-year student in Brock University's Concurrent Teacher Education Program, overcame a concussion to earn a national grant.
The athlete of the year for Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School in 2013, Finlayson suffered a serious concussion during a hockey game in late 2015 and began a long road to recovery.
Though she experienced headaches, memory loss and difficulty concentrating, she continued her goal of becoming a French-language educator.
The 20-year-old student was recently recognized with the coveted 2016-2017 Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Endowment Fund for Study in a Second Official Language.
The application process required several writing components outlining Finlayson’s background, love of teaching and involvement of French in her future career.
“To apply and be chosen while working through the concussion is something I’m really proud of accomplishing,” Finlayson said in a Brock University press release. “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get my application in on time because of the headaches I was experiencing and other symptoms.”
The $7,000 national bursary — one of only three awarded — will support her tuition costs, with a portion set aside to aide in future travel to France.
Finlayson, who rejoined Brock's varsity hockey team last November, hopes to teach children about the benefits of studying another language and share her passion for French.
She credits the support of her teammates, coaches, family and friends for making her return possible.