I had to fight my way into McGill by dealing with a tough, reality-oriented father. He came from a family of nine that valued work over education. When I was 16, he offered me a large sum of money to drop out of school and start working with him. He asked me not to mention anything to my mother. However, when I got home, I told her I just made $50,000! She got mad and told him that, unlike him, I was going to finish high school and that I’d be getting a university education, too.
This episode shaped my ambition. It made me more resilient and empowered me to reach my goal of entering McGill and embracing its values. I was made by resilience, and I was made by McGill.