Motion is proud to work together with the Tamara Gordon Foundation to provide our first-ever Motion-sponsored scholarship to one of our clients, Tristan Kelly. Mr. Kelly is a student at York University in Ontario pursuing a degree in psychology. Check out Tristan’s story below to learn more about his life at university, his experience as a Motion client, and how our scholarship is making a difference in his life.

The University path was not my 1^st choice nor a choice. However, an injury in 2014 to my spine changed and limited what I could do and find meaning in pursuing. Ipso facto, after a few years of recovery, in 2019, I started on the path of going to university to pursue the field of psychology. And in September 2024, I finally started my honours psychology degree program at York University.

Initially, the path and how to get to university wasn’t straightforward. Some major challenges were my educational roadmap, accessibility, and financial assistance. Educationally I had to get a GED, which I received from the Academic Upgrading Program at George Brown College (about 1.5 years). Then, I had to prepare myself for university studies, which I did at Seneca College in their Liberal Arts University Transfer diploma to degree program (2.5 Years) – both programs are finished at your own pace.

Accessibility was the next hurdle. Finding writing technologies, transportation, and the required interpersonal help between each program was difficult but not impossible and was the easiest significant hurdle to overcome. But none of this is possible without financing the program or degree. Fortunately, I was blessed with grants and bursaries along the way from OSAP, CAS, and through the latest Motion-sponsored scholarship I received from the Tamara Gordon Foundation. These grants and bursaries are what make the dream happen and I am especially grateful for each and everyone I receive. However, this scholarship is special, because not only has Motion helped with my school funding this year but they have provide me with support since the onset of my injury to help with my accessibility and mobility needs.  

The challenges I face as a student

Accessibility has been one of the biggest obstacles while I pursue my degree. Dictation software sometimes fails when I need it most. And wheelchair issues always seem to happen at the worst possible times, like exam days. On top of that, I wasn’t someone who loved school before my injury, so I had to push myself to build new habits and fix old gaps in my education. At York, I don’t get scribes who take notes for me, so I usually end up re-listening to recorded lectures. That adds another 9 or 10 hours of work each week, which can be exhausting.

The importance of support

I grew up in foster care, which meant I didn’t have the built-in family support that many students rely on. When I first started thinking about school, I didn’t even know about the grants available to me. My social worker connected me with the right people to call, and that made a huge difference. The foster care network has also continued to support me as I figure out this journey, which has been so important to me.

Life at university

To be honest, I often find school very stressful, but I do enjoy my homework and the chance to contribute to classroom discussions, especially in my psychology courses. One thing that has helped is the Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD), which provides equipment like electronics and dictation software. Having the right tools makes a huge difference.

What the scholarship means to me

When I found out I received a scholarship from Motion, I felt relieved. It was one less thing to worry about. Scholarships don’t just cover tuition, they ease the financial stress of transportation, books, and even food. For me, it meant not having to constantly budget and stress over every small expense.

What makes it even more meaningful is my history with Motion. I’ve worked with their Toronto and York offices for years, and my experience has always been amazing. They’ve never failed to fix an issue with my wheelchair or find a solution that works. People at Motion go above and beyond – doing all the background work with funders, setting me up right when I left the hospital, and making sure I never had to worry. Honestly, I’ve recommended them to other people because of how much I trust them. So receiving a scholarship from an organization I already respect and rely on felt special.

Previous

Next

Looking toward the future

My goals during university are to broaden how I see human interaction and figure out where I want to take my studies next. Maybe graduate school, maybe a master’s or doctorate – I’m still exploring. I’m especially interested in how people understand themselves, how they interact with the world, and sometimes how they misrepresent what’s really going on around them.

Long term, I want to make a difference in people’s lives on an individual level. My dream is to help people live more meaningful lives, not just in theory but in practice.

What I’m most proud of

The thing I’m most proud of so far is simple: I haven’t quit. I’ve kept moving forward and, as much as possible, I’ve tried to enjoy the ride.

If there’s one thing I’d want people to know about me, it’s that I’m not serious all the time. I’m a pretty laid-back person. My journey has had its challenges, but I’m grateful for the support I’ve had, for the opportunities I’ve been given, and for the chance to keep building toward a future I believe in.