In the final year of my undergrad, I applied for a master’s program in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at UofT. To learn more about the program, I applied and was selected for Graduate research day (GRD), an event during which the institute invites a select number of 3rd and 4th year prospective students from all over Canada for an all expenses paid, 3 day visit to the University of Toronto to learn about the research being conducted by the institute, to network with students and alumni, and to socialize with fellow prospective students.
GRD was mainly hosted at the Chelsea hotel, here in downtown Toronto where several events such as a banquet were held and where we were housed during our stay. One evening I went down and bought a quick meal in the hotel lobby. Once I was finished, I stood up to dispose of my waste. However, I couldn’t find a trashcan, which forced me to ask one of the two elderly women working there. The one whom I paid for my meal, and the other individual cleaning the seating area. I asked the woman cleaning as she was closest to me, where I could dispose of my trash. The answer I received shocked me. Instead of simply telling me where to dispose of my waste, she questioned me, asking “did you pay for this?” in an extremely accusatory tone. My shock immediately grew into anger and frustration, once I realised the implication of what she had just said. I contemplated reacting verbally but decided against it, given how little there would be to gain from doing so. I insisted that I did pay for it as as anyone would, yet she didn’t’ believe me until her co-worker came by and confirmed that I did.
I walked away, stunned, and saddened. This was a reminder that regardless of what I had achieved so far and had sights set on, some people would never be able to look past my skin colour and the prejudices they hold against those who look like me. This was a stark reminder that while being in an academic bubble can be protective in some ways, it doesn’t entirely insulate you from the ugliness of racism and prejudice that still permeates society at large.