About me

About me > Biography

Biography

In summary

Marie-Hélène Cyr (July 29, 2010)

My passions

Bon Jovi

Since an entire section of my website is devoted to my favorite band, I let you learn more on my biggest passion.

Space (including astronomy)

Note: The statements about the Canadian Space Agency on this page are those of the website's author and do not necessarily represent positions or opinions of the Canadian Space Agency.

As far as I can remember, I have always been particularly fascinated by space. I have spent several hours looking at the sky to locate planets of the solar system and constellations. How could I not be fascinated by the immensity of our universe, the mystery surrounding it and its great beauty?

My professional choice of becoming an engineer was made in part to give me a chance to work to push the aerospace technology forward. When I was young, the Canadian Space Agency didn't exist, so I was dreaming of working at NASA one day and going into space. I consider myself lucky for having a career at the Canadian Space Agency. I have already accomplished several things, listed in my outstanding professional achievements.

My particular interests

Writing

As you can see while browsing through my website, I love writing. I consider this art as being very liberating and as having therapeutic benefits. My most beautiful texts are often written in a short period of time (a few minutes), mostly when I feel strong emotions. As soon as I feel inspired, I need to write right away because otherwise, I can forget everything as fast as it came! However, it's not very practical when the inspiration comes while I'm driving! I have also gotten out of bed in the middle of the night in the past to write down a few lines on a piece of paper. It's fortunate because the next morning, I couldn't remember that I had written what was on the sheet!

Since an entire section of my website is devoted to my writing, I let you learn more on my writing projects.

Medicine / Health domain

In addition to wanting to become an astronaut one day, when I was young, I also wanted to become a physician. I thought that the human body was very interesting in general. However, when I was a teenager, I found out that I had a fear of blood, so I didn't head to medical school when I chose my field of study after high school.

I have always wanted to help people concretely to make a difference in their life. Even if I were not studying to become a physician, I still could put my desire to help people to good use in college when I became a private teacher of a few students, giving them private sessions in French, in English and in mathematics to help them pass their courses.

When I went through my orthognathic surgeries, I plunged in the health world as a patient, which rekindled my interest for medicine. (My surgeon could even testify it, I could not stop asking him questions to learn more!) The human body is so fascinating by its capacity to adapt and to heal! I have had the chance to speak with different physicians since then and several told me that I should not have let my fear of blood discourage me from going to medical school...

I think I have the required qualities to be a good physician. Specialities in which I'm interested, for different reasons, are oncology, radiology and palliative care. I thought about going back to school a few years ago to become a physician. I finally decided to continue my career in engineering, but I didn't close the door on this dream for good. If it is my destiny to go back to school and go get my "m.d." one day, I trust that life will find a way to guide me appropriately in that direction! In the meantime, I learn more about anatomy and I talk to physicians about their job at each opportunity I get.

Running, walking, Zumba, yoga and acroyoga

I discovered a strong interest for running several years ago. I have completely several official 5k races; I prefer trying to improve myself on short distances than trying to finish a race on a longer distance, by far. I fear getting injured or bored with longer distances. Walking on the other hand allows me to do longer distances and allows me to admire nature a little bit more. Running and walking allow me to unwind and get the stress out a little bit, one step at a time!

I took my first Zumba class in January 2014 and I dance at least once each week since! I've really been bitten by the Zumba bug! My instructor is also fantastic! My classes put a big smile on my face, both for the dancing and friendship with the class participants!

Following a lower back injury in July 2016, I decided to give yoga and acroyoga a chance, activities that I had never really tried before. I notice that yoga gives me back more flexibility! My spouse, a few friends and I also started doing acroyoga, that is yoga with one or several partners! The poses can make very beautiful pictures, but they often require a lot of flexibility, force, balance and mutual trust! I love it!

Web programming and design

My studies in computer engineering allowed me to introduce myself to web programming. At that time, at the beginning of the 2000's, I didn't find it was worth the efforts to push my knowledge further, since internet was not quite as spread and easy to access than now.

When the idea of having my own website surfaced in 2008, I knew that I had the necessary basis to create and maintain it myself. My knowledge was a little basic, but I quickly brought myself up to speed. I think that I'm doing well with the success that my website seems to have and the fact that several people have already approached me for me to share my knowledge regarding the web to contribute directly or indirectly to their own projects listed under my outstanding professional achievements.

Photography

Even if I have never taken a course in photography, I like taking pictures. I have taken the majority of the pictures contained on this website!

I don't cross off the possibility of me going to get technical knowledge through official courses in photography one day. In the meantime, I trust my instinct and my experience more when the time comes to experiment the different modes of my digital camera.

Baby sign language

I got interested by it after my first child was born in 2011 and it all started when I saw in person a 9-month-old child communicate by sign with his parents for them to understand him even before saying his first word! I immediately got seduced and very intrigued by this language, because it allows communicating faster with our child, what I find extraordinary! The biggest benefit of this language is that parents can understand their child and the child is less frustrated from not being understood!

People who I especially admire

The following people got into my life throughout the years and have influenced me positively; I especially admire them for the influence they have had on me!

Marie-Hélène

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