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Meet Â黨´«Ã½alumni Dylan Da Silva

Hometown: West Kelowna, BC
Program: Associate of Science, Kelowna - 2021

Okanagan College provided me with an exceptional foundation for my academic and professional journey. The smaller class sizes and supportive professors created an ideal learning environment, allowing me to deeply understand course material and maintain a high GPA—both of which were instrumental in my acceptance into medical school.

Beyond the classroom, Â黨´«Ã½gave me my first hands-on research opportunity with the BC Beverage Technology Access Center. This experience, along with the mentorship of dedicated faculty like Dr. Morgan Martin, fueled my passion for scientific research and gave me a strong laboratory skill set. When I transferred to UBCO, I was already well-prepared, which helped me complete and publish four research projects during my undergraduate studies.

If you’re looking for a post-secondary institution that offers high-quality education, exceptional mentorship, and a seamless transition to university, I highly recommend Â黨´«Ã½ It’s a place where you can explore your interests, build a strong academic foundation, and set yourself up for success in whatever career path you choose.

Can you tell us how your experience at Â黨´«Ã½helped shaped the career that you are in?

I am currently a second-year medical student in the UBC Island Medical Program, and my time at Â黨´«Ã½played a crucial role in guiding me toward this path. When I graduated high school, I wasn’t sure which direction I wanted to take in post-secondary education. I considered fields like engineering, nursing, and the sciences but didn’t want to commit to a program with a narrow scope before exploring my interests further.

Attending Â黨´«Ã½gave me the flexibility to take a broad range of courses, allowing me to discover my passion for biology and medical sciences while earning university-transferable credits. This opportunity to explore different disciplines helped me confidently decide to pursue a Bachelor of Science and, ultimately, a career in medicine.

The seamless transferability of OC’s courses to UBCO allowed me to complete my undergraduate degree in four years and transition smoothly into medical school. I am incredibly grateful for the strong academic foundation and the opportunities for exploration that Â黨´«Ã½provided, which were instrumental in shaping my journey to becoming a physician.

Why did you choose Okanagan College for your post-secondary education?

I chose Okanagan College because I wanted a smoother transition from high school to university, and I knew that its smaller class sizes and supportive professors would provide an ideal learning environment. The ability to engage closely with instructors not only helped me grasp course material more thoroughly but also played a key role in maintaining a high GPA—which in hindsight was very helpful for getting into medical school.

Additionally, the strong academic foundation I built at Â黨´«Ã½made my transition to UBCO surprisingly seamless. I found that my 3rd and 4th year courses were more manageable than expected because many of the concepts had already been covered in depth at OC.

Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for the high-quality education and supportive learning environment at OC, as it set me up for success in both my undergraduate studies and my journey to medical school.

Tell us about a memorable experience or project that made a lasting impact on your learning journey at OC

During my time at OC, I had the incredible opportunity to work as a research student with the BC Beverage Technology Access Center. This was my first hands-on experience with benchtop scientific research, and I quickly fell in love with the process. The mentorship I received, particularly from Dr. Morgan Martin, was invaluable—not only in refining my research skills but also in exposing me to different career paths in science and research.

Because of this early research experience, I was eager to continue conducting research when I transferred to UBCO. Thanks to the strong laboratory foundation I built at OC, I was already proficient in many essential techniques, which allowed me to contribute meaningfully to research projects right away. As a result, I contributed to four research projects during my undergraduate studies and was able to publish each of them.

Looking back, my research experience at Â黨´«Ã½played a pivotal role in shaping my academic and scientific journey. It provided me with the skills, confidence, and passion that continue to drive me forward in my medical and research pursuits.