My name is Seela Lapp, and I recently completed my Master of Arts in Human Rights and Social Justice at Thompson Rivers University. This portfolio brings together the work I have done over the past year, which includes research projects/papers, reflections, and my practicum experience. These outcomes show how my studies shaped my understanding of human rights, community care, and gender-based violence in Canada.
I have always been drawn to work that centres people’s dignity and wellbeing. During my undergraduate degree in Anthropology at the University of Victoria, I became deeply interested in how culture shapes our lives, our relationships, and our responsibilities to one another. That foundation guided me into graduate studies where I focused on the systemic barriers that impact survivors and the communities that support them.
Part of what drew me to this field is my own lived experience with gender-based violence. While I do not share those details publicly, those experiences have shaped my commitment to survivor-centred work and strengthened my belief in the importance of safety and systemic change. It informs how I approach research, how I think about policy, and how I show up in community spaces.
My practicum at the YMCA Emergency Women’s Shelter allowed me to further develop this commitment. Working alongside frontline staff and supporting women and children in crisis taught me how research, policy, and community-based practice must work together to create meaningful change. It also affirmed my passions to do work that supports survivors and challenge harmful systems to hopefully contribute to safer futures for women, children, and gender-diverse people.
This portfolio reflects the progression of my learning through my values and personal and academic goals. I hope to continue contributing to gender-based violence prevention and response as I move forward with my career. I will continue to be motivated by the belief that everyone deserves safety and the chance to thrive. This masters has given me the tools to commit to carrying those beliefs forward in my work.
This is a place to tell people about yourself, what drew you to your studies, and what you hope to accomplish. It’s also the front page of your Portfolio, and the first thing people will read about you, so make sure you orient them to what this site is for. Your About Me pages can be primarily text-based, or you can upload images of yourself and your experiences to help you tell your story.
The photo above is the Featured Image for this Page; you’ll see where to edit it on the Edit Page. You can choose any image you like for this space — as long as you have the rights to use it! — or you can choose to have no image at all, like the Resume and Lesson Plans pages.
A website like Unsplash is a good place to go to find interesting images that you can use freely on your own website. This one is by Clay Banks. Make sure you give credit when you do make use of someone else’s work. Also, be sure to fill in the Alt-Text when you upload your image, so users using a screenreader can also enjoy your site.