Meet Bridget Walsh
Bridget is a Professional violinist with Guelph Symphony Orchestra. She is working towards her goal of 1000 days of violin practice in a row.
Bridget Walsh is currently enrolled in full-time studies to study Neuroscience at the University of Guelph. She has played violin for over 17 years and in addition to her studies, continues to play professionally in the Guelph Symphony Orchestra as well as in SHEBAD, an indie/jazz/neo-soul group based in Guelph.
When did your love of STEM begin?
I have always loved science experiments. During elementary school, I would do one almost every weekend - the most memorable one was creating a non-Newtonian fluid and learning about how its viscosity changes with stress. Then throughout high school, I signed up for all three sciences (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) as well as all of the university-level math courses. Funny story, I was determined never to take biology in high school because I never really enjoyed it in middle school and figured I would go on to pursue chemistry (as a chemical engineer). I finally realized I had nothing to lose by taking the biology courses and as it turns out, I enjoyed it the most! All of that to say - always be open to trying new things (even if you think you won't enjoy it) because you never know what will happen!
What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?
Since I am just finishing the second year of my Neuroscience studies, I haven’t had an official job in the Neuroscience industry yet, but before my studies, I worked full-time at Linamar. This provided me with a rich understanding of the business of manufacturing, as well as insight into the world of production. As an excited learner, working in STEM was very satisfying because every day I had the opportunity to use my time management skills and learn new skills; from how to be a leader, to learning how to use new tools on the shop floor. These days, I use my time management skills to keep my spot on the Dean’s Honour List while working in the music industry. This time management skill will be key for wherever my future takes me!
What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?
We are all in this together to make the field of STEM more inclusive and diverse, so continue being yourself, speaking up, and spreading the word that STEM is meant for everyone!