Shanna St. Pierre-Power (BA’17) has dreamed of being a lawyer for as long as she can remember. The third-year law student has fought hard in her life to overcome barriers imposed upon her by the socio-economic factors of her youth. Thanks to this tenacity and the support she has received through awards like the Linda and Michael Beairsto Award, that dream is set to become a reality.
“After receiving great support and living an absolutely amazing student experience at UNB during my undergraduate degree, I was determined to complete my JD at UNB law. When I was accepted, it quite literally felt like a dream come true,” she said. “The friendships and the experiences I have made here will impact me for a lifetime.“
In addition to playing intramural basketball and participating in other campus activities, Shanna is also president of the UNB Indigenous Law Students’ Association. The scholarships and awards she has received, she said, have allowed her to dedicate more of her time to these extracurricular activities – hours she would otherwise have had to spend working. “They have supported my dream,” she said.
Shanna is proud of her law school. “UNB law holding smaller class sizes, provides us with the opportunity to really engage in meaningful discussions. Different perspectives are shared and welcomed. Hearing and learning about others’ perspectives and being able to share mine has been one of my favourite aspects of UNB law,” she said.
Looking forward, Shanna is excited to delve further into her interests in several different fields of law. She has secured an articling position at a prestigious firm in Fredericton, where she previously enjoyed working as a summer law student. “I am eager to explore and find my areas of focus with their support,” she said.
“Law degrees are one of the most versatile university qualifications, and the possibilities of the future feel limitless. I am tremendously excited to see what the future holds for me.”
