Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) political science student Suhana Gill has been named one of Surrey's Top 25 Under 25 and listed among the most influential women in Surrey.
Gill is passionate about politics and advocates for agriculture, climate justice, women's representation in society and youth engagement in politics. She is a marketing strategist at a family’s farm business, uses Instagram to educate people about climate change, serves as a Women’s Representative for the Kwantlen Student Association (KSA) and is an ambassador for One Tree Planted and 350 Canada climate initiatives.
Seems overwhelming? Not for 18-year-old Gill.
"It's chaotic, but I love it," smiles Gill. "I love being busy all the time. When at the end of the day, I know that I got it all done, that's a satisfaction that keeps me motivated to grow."
Gill is incredibly proud to have received Surrey’s Top 25 under 25 award, presented by the Surrey Board of Trade, and to have been named one of the Top 15 Women of Influence Breaking Barriers by Drishti Magazine.
The pandemic hit just as she entered high school, pausing her sports of soccer and swimming, and giving her time to complete additional school courses.
"By Grade 9, I was doing Grade 11 work, and by Grade 10, I was doing Grade 12 work. I thought I might as well push further and see if I can make it," says Gill about graduating high school two years early.
At age 10, Gill began engaging with governmental organizations and volunteering for political campaigns, learning the importance of youth involvement in politics.
"Canada has a big deficit of youth engagement in voting. It’s important that young people know what the government does, its policies and how the parties work," says Gill. "Everything they do now will affect us in 10 or 20 years, so young people must get more involved in politics."
At 15, Gill applied to KPU to pursue business studies and started her first semester when she was just 16. Later, she decided to follow her true passion and switched her field of study to political science.
Gill took her interest further and ran for a seat at the KSA table. As the Women’s Representative, she ensures that female KPU students are informed and heard and their issues are addressed, providing them with the best university experience possible.
"I'm always welcoming and open to having women come in and discuss what they want to discuss and initiatives that they like to see implemented," says Gill. "It’s very powerful when women come together to support each other."
Gill is grateful to her family for their support and to KPU instructors in the political science department for helping her gain hands-on experience and engage with politics outside of school.
KPU’s Department of Political Science offers a bachelor of arts degree and an associate of arts degree. Students explore the domestic and international influences that shape citizens' lives through government, democracy, laws, public policy, media, bureaucracy, civil society, and economics.