Jonathan: At the time I applied to McGill, I was a Canadian living in the U.S., having completed middle school there. I wanted to go back to my Canadian roots and to have the opportunity to live on campus while being steps away from a global city. I also come from a modest background and the cost of education mattered to our family.
Patty: The accessibility of tuition was also a consideration for our family, being one of four children. Having grown up in the suburbs of New Jersey, I knew I wanted to be in a city and that I wanted to study international political science as part of an international student body. McGill afforded me both and opened up huge opportunities for me.
Jonathan: What I love about McGill is the freedom and accountability with which it treated its students – you were on your own, but in a good way. There was a good balance between freedom and accountability. I had the opportunity to take advantage of living in an incredible city and enjoy a rich social environment, meeting all kinds of people, while also having the responsibility of being a Floor Fellow for students in Residence and performing academically, with some finals worth 100% of our grade. Learning to be both independent-minded and accountable is an important part of growing up.
Patty: Looking back, while I was motivated to choose McGill because of what I was interested in, it was at McGill that I met people I had a lot in common with, with whom I most closely identified and helped shape me as the person I am today. Minoring in Japanese at McGill gave me the opportunity to teach English in Japan for a summer. This not only dramatically accelerated my language skills, but also equipped me with new skills that led to my first job out of school in a training role at a software company.
Jonathan: McGill was a seminal time in my life. It was impactful in setting my perspective on the world. I graduated with a global outlook, shaped by the people I met and the classes I took. The combination of political science and economics allowed me to appreciate different perspectives and taught me how to think, not just what to think. The international student body also meant that you would have dialogue in class with people on both sides of the debate who had direct experience with some of the things you were learning about, which was invaluable.
Patty: The classes I took, particularly those on international political science, combined with the amazing professors I had and the level of dialogue among and maturity of the students in the classroom, shaped my mindset and how I think even today. The level of reading, writing, expression of thought and communication of differing opinions were foundational, even today. With a Bachelor of Arts, you get certain soft skills that set you up for success.
Jonathan: For both of us, the experience of being Floor Fellows shaped who we are in a real way. The students living in Residence were from different backgrounds from all over the world facing different challenges. We learned to build and advance individual relationships, and team building. We felt an accountability to make sure that the students were getting the most out of McGill. With little training, we learned how to build community among students living far from their families.
Patty: I’ve spent the last 29 years in a variety of marketing roles at global tech companies where the ability to shape strong relationships across different regions has been foundational to my success – it’s at the heart of what I do, and a skill I first honed at McGill.
Jonathan: Out of McGill, I went into telecom, which was a great opportunity to learn but an area I wasn’t particularly passionate about. I moved to San Francisco and started working for Charles Schwab in 2000. Having grown up with modest means, I recognized the power of investing to change lives and feel passionate about working for a company making an impact on people’s futures. Other than health, financial security is one of the most important things for individuals to take care of, which unfortunately they often don’t.
My advice to current students is to look for career opportunities where you feel energetic when you are most tired, work in an industry that you feel passionate about and work for someone you trust and can learn a lot from. Be passionate, but be patient.
Patty: Going into university, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I learned that I loved to learn new things, not just from books and professors but also from the people around me. After graduating, that translated to a career in marketing where we are constantly learning and understanding what our customers need and how evolving technologies can help them. I am fortunate to have gone down this path. But most won’t know what path they’re on or will force themselves down a particular path. It’s important to understand and stay true to what you enjoy and what you’re good at. Anchoring in on that fuels you and opens up so many paths to explore.
I would also encourage today’s students to take advantage of a minor and/or double major; widen your intellectual aperture to discover areas you may not know about and that you can go into. And travel if you can! My summer term abroad in Japan was a highlight of my undergraduate experience. You learn so much in such a short time.