McGill was always held in the highest regard in our family. My grandfather graduated from McGill in 1935 with a Bachelor of Engineering and my mom completed her Bachelor of Arts in 1968. When it was my time to apply for university, McGill was my only choice.
I began my degree in physiology, with the aspiration of becoming a doctor. In my first term I became quite sick and needed to withdraw from the semester. As I was planning my registration for the following semester, I was drawn in by the school’s management courses. Every course seemed interesting and fun! I went to the Registrar’s Office and transferred from sciences to commerce.
In retrospect, I am so happy I made that change and chose to pursue an area of real personal interest. I devoured the materials, loved being in class, and found part-time jobs in the field that further fueled my interest and knowledge. Ultimately, I graduated at the top of my class which allowed me to begin my career as a management consultant, and later pursue my MBA in the US.
My advice for today’s students is to seek a breadth of experience by exploring courses in different fields and faculties. Get involved in clubs, and find networking opportunities with students and alumni. These exploratory years will help you identify areas of passion which will set you up for a rewarding career and long-term success.
This breadth of experience will also give you the chance to learn how to learn. This was one of the most valuable skills I developed at McGill. The academics at school provide you with a baseline in your field, but those areas evolve. Best practices in IT, Marketing, and Operations have changed dramatically in the last 25 years. Being curious and open to learning has allowed me to navigate industry shifts in a variety of different fields, working through many interesting challenges and accomplishments.
McGill is a community that spans generations, faculties, and countries. The resources available to you as a student and then as a graduate are endless. I was involved with the young alumni group after I graduated, which reinforced how the support of the McGill community persists as an alumnus. Our alumni community has a presence across the globe, so make the most of this network and leverage opportunities to stay connected to your alma mater. It continues to be a great honour to associate myself with an incredible group of alumni who are always willing to help.