“I was adopted, and I was told that was to give me a chance to lead a better life,” says Lily Robbins. “I have always wanted to honour that and become a part of something that helps make lives better.”

That desire led her to pursue the health sciences and ultimately, a career in patient care.

Lily completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at Carleton University, and upon graduation, she realized she wanted a career that would allow her to work directly with people.

“I didn’t want to stay in academia or work behind the scenes in research. I wanted something more hands-on,” she says. “That’s what drew me to healthcare.”

While exploring her career options, Lily says all signs pointed towards respiratory therapy.

“Based on every career questionnaire I had filled out and my interests in general, everything suggested respiratory therapy,” she says.

“From the troubleshooting to the critical thinking, the applied knowledge and the patient care you get to provide, this profession checked all the boxes.”

“But to be honest, I had no idea what respiratory therapy was before that,” Lily says with a laugh. “A career counsellor at Carleton told me the best place to pursue it was Michener, and I’m very glad they did.”

Throughout her time at Michener, Lily embraced opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. In her final year, she was elected Student Council President, representing students and helping to foster a strong sense of community across the Institute.

But it was her clinical rotations, which introduced her and her classmates to all seven disciplines that make up respiratory therapy, that left the biggest impression.

“Our clinical placements were even better than I had hoped,” she says. “As much as you can learn and study in class, clinic is where you discover that it’s about the time you take and the effort you put into caring for people on that personal level that makes a difference as a health professional.”

“It was very fulfilling to be a part of someone’s care.”

Of all her rotations, Lily says the pediatric rotation left the biggest impression.

“I liked the dynamics of talking to the kids and making them feel safe, and talking with the parents to inform and reassure them,” she says. “It was a good learning curve.”

The experience reinforced what had drawn her to healthcare in the first place – the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

She starts her professional career as a respiratory therapist at Toronto General Hospital later this month and says she feels confident thanks to the skills and experience she gained at Michener.

“I’m looking forward to making a positive impact on every patient I see and helping someone in a critical situation feel cared for and safe,” she says. “The opportunity to help make lives better is what inspired me to pursue healthcare in the first place, and I’m excited to carry that forward throughout my career.”

Lily will address her fellow students as Michener’s Valedictorian for the Class of 2026 on June 13, 2026, at Meridian Hall.