My Portfolio
Welcome to my portfolio. Here you’ll find a selection of my work. Explore my projects to learn more about what I do.
FIRST SESSION
After learning in the beggining of November 2023 that I had the chance to be apart of the Honors in Social Science program, here are the activities and projects I have been apart of in my first semester of Cégep.
A food tour in Old Montreal with M. Bui
All students of Collégial International Sainte-Anne had this interdisciplinary activity proposed to them. We visited multiple iconic Montreal food joints, such as Olive et Gourmando and Crew Collective Cafe. We got to know why so many people loved these well-known places, while meeting some very nice restaurant owners. It is always nice to be a tourist in your own city!
My personal favorite snack was these round croissants filled with salted caramel. I plan on going back to get some more!
Visit of McGill's mental health institute, Douglas Hospital!
Once again, as part of the interdisciplinary week at school, we were offered this amazing experience. We had the chance to assist a Q and A session with mental health and neurology researchers at Douglas to learn more about their job and what they do, all extremely interesting and highly intelligent people. One part of the group visited the institute's brain bank while the other visited it's Alzheimers research building. I was tremendously impressed by the research conducted on Douglas' grounds by Alzheimers-focused scientists. Progress when it comes to this disease is approaching, maybe even a cure for it. Great news for our society!
Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures from this visit.
SECOND SESSION
Here is what I attended during my second session in Cégep.
McGill Campus Tour
I recently had the chance to tour the McGill campus with two of my friends from the honors program, Fanny and Florence. The experience was both exciting and informative. We joined a group of other potential future students and were guided by great tour guides who shared a lot of knowledge about the campus. They provided detailed information about the various programs offered at McGill and the admissions process. We were particularly impressed by the vibrant student life, with over 300 clubs and organizations catering to every interest you can think of. Walking through the historic buildings and beautiful grounds reminded me of when my mom, years ago, taught me how to read on the benches in front of the Faculty of Arts. Overall, the campus tour was a fantastic opportunity to see McGill from a new perspective and get a taste of what our academic future might look like.
MariMUN (Marianopolis College Model UN)
My first Model UN experience at Marianopolis College was memorable, but not quite what I expected. Representing the United Arab Emirates in a General Assembly on Sustainable Development, I felt both nervous and excited. Even with my long preparation, I found the experience of debating and negotiating in a large group setting less enjoyable than I had hoped. All of it was very overwhelming, and while I appreciated the opportunity to present my country's viewpoints and propose solutions, it wasn't my preferred format. Collaborating with delegates from other nations taught me a lot about diplomacy, but I realized that diplomacy isn't really for me. Next time, I would probably choose a crisis committee, where the dynamic and fast-paced environment might suit me better. This experience was still very valuable, as it helped me understand my preferences and interests in the world of international relations.
Bourstad 2024 Challenge
For a stock trading simulation across CEGEPs in Quebec, I chose to have one of my teachers as a guide. Mr. Dubé's weekly challenges taught me precise aspects of trading. The simulation offered a hands-on opportunity to dive into the world of finance, competing against students from various colleges. Each participant was given a virtual portfolio worth 200 000$ and access to real-time market data to make informed decisions. Throughout the simulation, I learned to analyze market trends, evaluate risks, and make strategic trades. This experience not only enhanced my understanding of the stock market but also improved my analytical and decision-making skills. The thrill of seeing our investments grow (or shrink...) in response to our choices was both educational and exciting. I came out of this opportunity with a true interest in investing and the stock market.
McGill Campus Tour (this time with exclusively Honours students)
I attended another tour of the McGill campus with a private group, students from the honors social science program. This tour was unique because we had the opportunity to engage in in-depth discussions with the guides about the programs that specifically interested our group: psychology, law, and management. The personalized part of the tour allowed us to ask detailed questions and receive better-fit answers about these fields.
Bourstad 2025
I participated in the same competition as I did last year, but this time instead of following Mr. Dubé's "crash course", I decided to participate independently.
PI - My biggest project so far
For my final integrative project, I explored how cultural tourism affects Guatemala’s economy and society. I wanted to move past the usual ideas people have about tourism in Central America, like resorts and beaches, and instead focus on tourists who travel to learn and connect with culture. During my Spanish immersion trip, I stayed with a local host family, which allowed me to experience things from the perspective of both a student and a guest in the community.
The goal of my project was to figure out whether cultural tourism actually benefits local people, or if it sometimes causes more harm than good. I used three research methods to answer this: surveys with cultural tourists, interviews with local tourism professionals and university professors, and field observations at key sites like Lake Atitlán and Antigua. I collected 44 full survey responses, which gave me insight into how tourists think about their role. My interviews offered a deeper look at how locals experience tourism, and my observations helped me see the real behavior of tourists in action.
What I found was a mix of positives and negatives. On the one hand, cultural tourism can bring jobs, pride, and help preserve traditions. On the other hand, it can also lead to rising costs of living, uneven economic gains, and sometimes traditions are changed just to appeal to visitors. In the final section of my paper, I suggested a few realistic improvements, such as better tourist education at entry points, stronger government support for responsible tourism, and more visible ways to support local businesses.
This project helped me reflect on my own travel habits and gave me a deeper understanding of how tourism works behind the scenes. It also made me realize how important it is to travel thoughtfully and with purpose.