Post by Judy Luu, MD/PhD

💭 The best mentors don’t shape; they nourish, offering the sunlight and water needed to grow freely into your full potential. During our POWER UP Series (The POWER Hub), I shared that in my third year of undergrad, I had no idea what I wanted to do next. I cold-emailed five researchers at the University of Calgary to work in their labs for the summer… and only Dr. Matthias G. Friedrich replied! That one act of generosity changed my trajectory and ultimately led me to pursue my MD/PhD with him. Fast forward 15 years, and I’m still in awe of how the universe connects us to the right people at the right time. 🙌 Mentorship is symbiotic—it works when both people commit, stay curious, and stay engaged. To the younger generation: ✅ Reach out to people who inspire you. ✅ Stay open to possibilities around you, and trust that growth often comes from the smallest “yes.”