Receiving the Kalpesh Oza Award is a deeply personal full-circle moment for me. Kalpesh Oza was a brilliant microbiologist, artist, and AIDS activist whose fearlessness shaped Canadian and American HIV movements in the 80s and 90s. To be honoured in their name, someone who used art, activism, and radical visibility to challenge stigma, is profoundly meaningful.

This recognition feels especially nostalgic because ASAAP is where my journey began. I joined ASAAP in 2019 after graduating from the University of Waterloo, first as a research assistant on the YSMENA Program, then as a Community Engagement and Evaluation Coordinator, eventually becoming ASAAP’s first manager at 24 supporting LGBTQ+ newcomers and refugees at the height of the pandemic. ASAAP shaped my career, my values, and my understanding of community care.

To return today, on the week of World AIDS Day, is a reminder of the legacy we all carry forward: to fight stigma, uplift marginalized voices, and honour those, like Kalpesh, who paved the way.

So many people get confused between therapy and life coaching, and I get why, it’s easy to mix them up when both aim to help you grow. But here’s the truth: a therapist helps you heal your past, while a life coach helps you design your future. Therapy is for processing trauma, depression, or emotional wounds. Coaching, on the other hand, is for those ready to take action, build confidence, and step into their highest, thriving self. This post is here to help you understand the difference because knowing where you are in your journey determines what kind of support will truly help you rise.