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Meet Our Students: Celebrating Success Stories – Arman Shahzadeh

By Diana Corredor
In our Meet Our Students: Celebrating Success Stories series, we spotlight students whose personal and academic journeys embody the spirit of discovery and resilience that defines the Faculty of Social Science at Western University. This edition features Arman Shahzadeh, an Honours Specialization student in Psychology, whose time at Western has been marked by exploration, growth, and national achievement—on and off the track.

When Shahzadeh began his studies at Western, he wasn’t entirely sure which career path he would follow. What he did know was that he wanted to keep his options open. “I was drawn to the Faculty of Social Science because I believe its curriculum helps develop core skills that are valuable across a wide range of fields,” he explains. From research methods and statistical analysis to critical thinking and communication, the program’s versatility gave him the confidence to explore different directions and build a foundation that could support whichever future he chose.

That spirit of exploration led Shahzadeh to one of the most defining experiences of his academic journey: enrolling in Philosophy 1230 – Reasoning and Critical Thinking. The course introduced him to formal logic and the structure of arguments—skills that quickly proved invaluable not just in the classroom, but in everyday life. “Whether I’m debating with friends or analyzing news articles, I use what I learned in that course all the time,” he shares. It was also the spark that ignited his interest in a legal career. The overlap between the course content and the Law School Admission Test revealed a clear path forward: Shahzadeh now plans to become an attorney.

While academics have helped shape his future, athletics have shaped his character. As a member of Western’s varsity track and field team, Shahzadeh has travelled across the country, contributing to both provincial and national team championships. “I’ve been privileged to be surrounded by outstanding student-athletes, mentors, and lifelong friends,” he says. “Even the setbacks and injuries have been valuable—they’ve made me a stronger person.”

That strength and discipline led to one of Shahzadeh’s proudest achievements: being selected to represent Canada at the FISU World University Games. “Representing my country has been a dream of mine ever since I started playing sports as a child,” he says. “It’s clear to me that this wouldn’t have been possible without the mentorship of my coaches and teammates here at Western.”

Looking back, Shahzadeh encourages new students in the Faculty of Social Science to embrace uncertainty and explore freely. “One of the great aspects of Western’s program is that students spend their first year as general social science students before specializing. That flexibility helped me discover my interests and gave me confidence in my academic and career decisions.”

Shahzadeh’s journey reminds us that success isn’t always about knowing exactly where you’re headed from the start—it’s about staying open, staying curious, and building the habits and values that lead to excellence in every arena.

Celebrate Arman Shahzadeh’s inspiring story with us, and stay tuned for more students who are making their mark at Western and beyond.

If you want to share your own story or know someone who should be featured, please reach out to us!