First-Gen Student From Town of 500 Thrives at USask

When Emily Sebastian first arrived at the University of Saskatchewan from her hometown of 500 people, the campus felt overwhelming. Now she's graduating with top honors, an Indigenous Achievement Award, and a job waiting for her.

Sebastian made history as the first person in her family to attend university. The Métis student from Montmartre, Saskatchewan, chose USask for its renowned College of Agriculture and Bioresources, pursuing a degree in crop science with an agribusiness minor.

"Receiving this Indigenous Achievement Award is so meaningful because it represents so much more than just academic achievement," Sebastian said during Indigenous Achievement Week, an annual celebration of Métis, First Nations, and Inuit success at USask. "This award represents my growth throughout university."

That growth came from pushing past her comfort zone repeatedly. Sebastian joined student clubs early on, which helped her build friendships and feel connected to campus life. Growing up on a farm, she always knew agriculture was her calling, but university taught her to think bigger.

Her boldest move was joining a study tour to Brazil, where she and classmates explored crop production across Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. They visited Brazilian universities and discovered that despite coming from opposite sides of the world, agriculture united them.

"Although we were from two very different parts of the world, we found that agriculture united us," Sebastian said. "Agriculture is our way of life, and it was just so interesting hearing about some of their agricultural practices."

Sebastian also completed undergraduate research on top-dressing nitrogen fertilizer in wheat, work she conducted through her summer job at Ag Grow Consulting. Her research aims to help farmers improve crop yields while reducing environmental impact through better nitrogen efficiency.

The Ripple Effect

Sebastian's success extends beyond her personal achievement. As a first-generation university student from a small rural community, she's opening doors for others who might feel too small for big dreams. Her journey shows Indigenous students from rural areas that they belong in higher education and can excel there.

This spring, she'll graduate and start her career as a scouting agronomist with the same company where she completed her research. While she hopes to return to the family farm someday, for now she's embracing the opportunities ahead.

From a nervous first-year student to an award-winning graduate with research experience and international travel under her belt, Sebastian proved that feeling small is just the starting point for growing big.