Community work fuels grad’s drive to help others

Fresh off earning an honours science degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Ashley Fahie of Cole Harbour says community involvement has sharpened her desire to support others.

Ashley, a member of the Southeastern Community Health Board (CHB), says her experience influenced how she sees her future. It’s exposed her to people working in social work and community health and nudged her toward a future she once thought might be strictly clinical.

“As time went on, I found myself more interested in family psychology and social psychology,” she explains. Ashley majored in psychology and minored in neuroscience.  

She’s exploring work with the IWK Health Centre and Nova Scotia Health while considering a master’s degree in social work. The appeal, she adds, lies in its flexibility and its alignment with her values.

“There are so many avenues you can take with social work,” Ashley points out. “You can still go in similar directions as counselling or psychology but with a broader social focus.”

Ashley, who grew up along Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore, explains her interest in human behaviour studies began long before university but her CHB volunteering and post-secondary education clarified her motivation.

Over the past five or six years, she explains, she has followed her passion for psychology through mentoring and coaching. Volunteering with the CHB felt like a natural extension of that work.

“I thought volunteering would be a great first step into testing the waters,” she says. “It lets me follow my passion of helping people around me.”

The CHB’s welcoming environment stood out for her. Being surrounded by people who share her interest in community health has reinforced her desire to work in mental health, addictions and social support.

“It allows me to be involved in my community and be around like‑minded people,” she adds. “It also gives me opportunities to follow the career interests I have.”

She encourages other students to get involved in community work, whether through CHBs or other organizations.

“It can show you the things that are bigger than yourself,” Ashley says. “It reminds you how important it is to give back to others and gives you the opportunity to see for others and for others to see for you.” 

Photo of Ashley Fahie.