'Freedom to explore who I am': Grad finds growth, direction at U of T Mississauga

Benji Jacob had already lived in three different countries before he arrived at the University of Toronto – so moving from place to place felt like the only constant in his life.

That changed as he settled into his undergrad at U of T Mississauga, where he was able to explore his interests and build on his passions.

“I arrived in Canada alone with two suitcases and a backpack, carrying great excitement, an awareness of how much this opportunity meant,” says Jacob, 22, who graduated last week with an honours bachelor of science degree specializing in psychology and a double minor in biology and biomedical communication.

“UTM gave me the space and freedom to explore who I am more fully and authentically, and to grow into someone I am proud of becoming.”

Jacob, who was named U of T Mississauga’s valedictorian for the Class of 2026, says he initially planned to pursue neuroscience but shifted his academic path after considering what resonated most with him.

“I realized my myriad interests funnels to understanding and helping others,” he says. “I became so invested in social psychology and personality psychology; I realized that those were where my genuine interests were.”

While he’s looking to the future with plans to eventually pursue a PhD in social personality psychology, he’s hopeful the initiatives he launched during his undergrad will last long after his time at U of T wraps up.

One of those programs is the Studio X art collective. 

“It's my little baby. It's my third space,” says Jacob, referring to the sociological concept of a space outside of work and the home. “I’m just following my passion.”

Jacob, who didn’t want to forgo his love for art while attending university, set up the initiative in 2022. He searched for likeminded students who wanted to express themselves beyond their program of study. That group, which became Studio X, creates campus art installations featuring student-made paintings, photography, screen-printing and more.

“We wanted to beautify spaces around UTM but also share profound messages about social justice issues and provide a space for learning,” says Jacob.

His desire to foster inclusion also led him to a job as a research assistant in the lab of Joanne Chung, an associate professor in U of T Mississauga’s department of psychological and brain sciences. There, he studied the experiences of racialized undergraduate students.

Jacob became the senior project co-ordinator for the lab’s longitudinal study “Giving Voice,” which looks at how personality and well-being develop within the university context.

“I didn't realize research could be so personal,” he says. “I always thought it to be very technical and distant, but I've seen how rich and community-centered research can be.”

Jacob, who came to U of T Mississauga with the support of the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship program, also became a Laidlaw Scholar, which allowed him to pursue independent research on queer person of colour identity development.

Outside the classroom, Jacob became involved in various aspects of campus life through roles as a residence services assistant, a Student Recruitment and Admissions worker and as president of the Psychology Association of Undergraduate Students at Erindale, where he established community partnerships and mentorship programs to help undergrads.

“I hope people remember me as someone who likes to lead with the heart and likes to build community,” says Jacob, who received several leadership awards.

“I’ve really tried to creatively think of ways to do that, whether that's through art installations or mentorship programs.”  

As he plans his next steps, Jacob says he’s proud of his U of T Mississauga legacy and wants to reassure first-year students who might be anxious about university – as he once was.

“You don't need to have everything figured out – this is a time for you to make mistakes, to learn and grow,” he says. “University is an incredible opportunity but you need to be ready to make the most out of it.”