From Ballet to Advocacy: A Woodsworth Graduate's Journey

By Sean McNeely - A&S News

A former professional ballet dancer, MaryJo O’Connor knows all about rhythm and timing. Relying on these instincts, she made the life-changing decision to leave her life of dancing and come to U of T.

O’Connor is graduating as a member of Woodsworth College with an honours bachelor of arts degree majoring in ethics, society and law, with a double minor in political science and English.

Her path to U of T was unconventional, as her life and much of her identity revolved around ballet. That brought with it a demanding and often punishing cycle of training, practice and performance that pushed both her mind and body to the brink.

“With the dancer mindset, it was all about results,” she says. “I was a very strong perfectionist, so I worked myself to the edge.”

She trained non-stop from age 15 to 19, dancing on stages around North America as well as Europe where she studied and performed in places like Estonia and Prague. She returned to Canada and moved to Montreal where she continued to dance, but it was there in 2020 during the COVID pandemic that she had the time and space to reflect on her life.

“I was very unhappy dancing,” she says. “There was a lot I loved about it and I don't regret anything, but it was very toxic. Having such a singular pursuit, I was always thinking about what's wrong with me. I didn't realize how mentally exhausted I was until I stopped.

“I realized this wasn't going to be a sustainable career. I felt like I would be healthier in my mind and body if I switched career paths.”

But in doing so, she had to overcome feelings of guilt.

“For my whole life, it was drilled into me that if I stopped, then I failed. But this was the right decision. I felt empowered by it.”

Embarking on her new path, O’Connor needed help to get to U of T, as she didn’t complete high school conventionally.

She applied to Woodsworth’s Academic Bridging Program, which bridges the gap between a student’s prior education and the skills necessary for first-year university courses. Once completed, students gain admission to the Faculty of Arts & Science with credits toward their degree.

It was perfect for O’Connor.

“The Academic Bridging Program truly changed my life and showed me that you can find meaning and success on a non-conventional path,” she says. “The program brought me new friends, coworkers, connections and confidence. The program also allowed me to take control of my life on a new career path that I could not fathom at the start.”

Once accepted to Arts & Science, she chose to study ethics, society and law because of its interdisciplinary nature, and because she wants to pursue a career in constitutional or human rights law.

“I like looking at things from different perspectives,” says O’Connor. “My program included political science, philosophy, sociology, legal analysis, and history. I felt like I had a lot of freedom to choose, focusing on things I was passionate about. At the same time, it gave me a strong foundation in what law school could look like.”

In her final year, O’Connor took a course for graduating students by invite only, called Community Research Partnerships in Ethics. The course features a volunteer placement within an organization, and O’Connor spent eight months with Women at the Centre.

Created by and for survivors of gender-based violence, this Canadian-based non-profit organization ensures that women, trans, and gender-diverse survivors act as the leading experts in driving social policy, legal reform and community support.

O’Connor worked primarily on the Centre’s initiative, Over-Represented, and Under-Protected. This initiative addresses reproductive injustices through community-based participatory research to ensure that Indigenous and Black women, Two-spirit, gender-diverse and trans communities reclaim knowledge and advocate for systemic change.

Her research focused on how Indigenous knowledge can define, craft, and shape reproductive, and general, healthcare policy and legislation applied in clinical and community settings.

“It was a really fulfilling project,” says O’Connor. “I was engaging with the real world and contributing to an initiative that's actively advocating for marginalized people.”

While O’Connor’s courses and academic success have set her on a course for law school, throughout her entire degree, she remained connected to the Academic Bridging program, acting as a mentor to other students following a similar path.

“I wanted to give back to the program, because it gave me so much,” she says.

She was the Academic Bridging Students' director with the Woodsworth College Students' Association (WCSA) throughout her entire degree.

“I helped support their transition into university life,” she says. “Bridging students are from so many different walks of life, everybody is so inspiring. I wanted to be able to instill a sense of belonging and confidence within them, because there's plenty of imposter syndrome. I know I certainly felt that too.

“It's so enriching to see the growth that happens in so little time, and the confidence,” she says. “A lot of people coming into bridging never thought that university would be accessible to them. They never thought they'd be the type of person that would pursue a degree. I just loved seeing people realize that they're capable of doing things they didn't think they'd be capable of.”

With her degree in hand, O’Connor plans to take a gap year, giving her time to prepare for the LSAT. She is also co-managing a hot yoga studio and plans to carve out some time for travel and creative writing.

Her advice to other students, particularly those who are taking a different academic route like she did:

“Don't be afraid to ask for help, because people actually want to help you,” she says. “As a dancer, I was conditioned to believe you have to deal with everything yourself. You can't rely on others. What made my degree so fulfilling is the people I've surrounded myself with.

“Just because you're on a non-conventional path doesn't mean it's any less valuable.”

Originally published in Arts & Science News.

MaryJo O'Connor is a graduate of the Academic Bridging Program at U of T's Woodsworth College. The Academic Bridging team is proud to celebrate alumni of the program who are graduating from U of T this week. 

Interested in learning more? Applications for the Academic Bridging Program (Fall 2026) are now open until June 22, 2026.