Hello! My name is Emily Meret Burgis and in my life I play many different roles. Over the past several years I have worked hard to balance all of these different roles so that I could grow and learn. This program is just one part of my tapestry. Outside of being a graduate student I am also a full-time teacher in a York Region secondary school where I teach Visual Arts and English. I am also qualified to teach Special Education, English as a Second Language and Guidance.  I love my classroom life and the relationships I get to build with students. Each day they make me laugh and I learn something new. I always feel privleged when they come back to visit me after graduation or send me updates on their progress.

I started my post-secondary education feeling very lost. I was giving up a world I knew of competitive figure skating for a world of academia, and I wasn't sure if I was making the right choice. I changed my major several times until I settled on doing what I have always done and loved: Art and English. Once I embraced those strengths I think the rest started falling into place. I realized that, for me, teaching was a calling and a part of who I am. I selected UOIT to complete my B.Ed degree because of its innovative approach to education. With a little encouragement I found my way back to UOIT for my Masters. I felt I needed to teach for a while to gain practical experience and find out what I didn't know.