Growing up in Turkey, I always wanted to attend university abroad and experience studying in an international and multilingual environment. McGill was the perfect choice for me because of its high global ranking, its location in a French-speaking city, and its tight-knit student community.
Studying at McGill has been an amazing experience, and it wouldn’t have happened without donor support. The bursaries I’ve received helped to ease financial stress and allowed me to focus on my studies and create meaningful connections with other students.
A highlight of my time at McGill was my trip to China last summer, funded through the Li Ka Shing Initiative. I improved my Chinese language skills, experienced Chinese culture firsthand, and met people who are now my closest friends.
McGill has allowed me to learn alongside people from diverse backgrounds, which has profoundly enriched my personal and academic life. Thanks to donor support, I can become the happiest and most knowledgeable version of myself.
Defne Suyabatmaz, Class of 2028
Faculty of Arts
McGill24 ambassador
March 11 is the 11th edition of McGill24, the University’s annual day of giving, when the global McGill community comes together to support students, researchers, student-athletes, and more. Visit mcgill24.ca to learn more about how you can make magic happen for McGill students.