Reflecting on the PAUSE Graduate School Panel with Anne Cabildo

By Aiya Farhan, undergraduate student at the LAMA Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga.

Each year, the Psychology Association of Undergraduate Students at Erindale (PAUSE) brings together a community of students eager to learn, connect, and imagine their next steps. This fall, one of those opportunities took shape in the form of the Graduate School Application Workshop, where five psychology graduate students, featuring LAMA Lab’s own Anne Cabildo, came together to share their paths, lessons, and honest reflections on navigating graduate school.

For many undergraduates, the process of applying to graduate school can feel both thrilling and intimidating. Yet, in that shared space, surrounded by open dialogue and friendly faces, students can find a sense of grounding and direction with the help of the panelists' reflections. The event was structured in two parts: first, each graduate student gave a short presentation about their personal journey, what inspired them to apply, the challenges they encountered, and what they learned along the way. The second hour invited undergraduates into more informal conversations, where they could ask questions and connect directly with the panelists.

Anne reflected that the experience was both grounding and energizing:

“For me, it was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on my own experience applying to graduate school. I also really like participating in these events alongside my friends and colleagues. It’s inspiring to hear their perspectives and the different paths that brought them here.”

What stood out most for Anne was the joy of seeing students’ excitement about the future.

“It really boosted my own motivation to keep going,” she shared. “It’s hard to believe I’m already in my fourth year!”

Anne’s story, shaped by her love of music, shows how personal interests can naturally evolve into academic goals. Psychology, for her, became a way to understand how people connect through music and emotion, and that kind of perspective adds depth to both research and everyday life. It’s something many students relate to, the way one passion leads to another, and how curiosity can guide us toward new directions we didn’t plan for. Panels like PAUSE give space for those realizations. They help students connect what they’re learning in class to the bigger picture, that growth happens not just through grades or milestones, but through the people and experiences that push them forward.

At the LAMA Lab, we’re proud to see members like Anne taking what they learn and sharing it back with the community. Her participation shows how mentorship and collaboration create a ripple effect that motivates others to stay curious, engaged, and confident in their own paths. Her reflections get to the heart of why events like PAUSE matter since this panel offers real conversations that remind students why they started, where they’re headed, and how much they’ve already grown along the way.