Name: David Sadleir | Program: Industrial Engineering | Graduation Year: 6T4 |
Someone once said, “The trouble with following the herd, is stepping in what it leaves behind”. Our ever more complex and challenging world needs empathetic and informed leaders … not followers.
The poet, Robert Frost, ended his famous poem, “The Road Not Taken” with this thought:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
Congratulations on your graduation. Now, make it count for yourself, family and all of us. You have been well prepared to achieve that outcome. Have the courage to seize your opportunities, to learn from your mistakes and to not give up!
Stay safe.
Name: Sylvia Kudaverdian | Program: Chemical Engineering | Graduation Year: 9T8 |
When I first started out in my career, I was worried about forgetting “stuff” I learned in Skule, and not having answers when I needed them. Early on in my career, I realized that my education was not so much about what I learned, but more about how I learned to learn. My Engineering degree gave me the tools I need to learn anything I need to learn … find the answers I need, identify the resources I need. You don’t need to know everything – but you need to know how to find answers and resources to get you the answers you need. Throughout my career, being able to admit that I didn’t have an answer, but that I could definitely get one has been the most powerful tool in my kit.
Name: Donald Pruner | Program: Engineering Physics (Communications) | Graduation Year: 4T9 |
As you are about to graduate, you are understandably looking forward to the beginning of your career, and from that perspective, the career seems to be all important. When you approach or reach the end of that career, the successes that you may have achieved are less important or significant to you than the relationships that you have built and maintained with family and friends. So my advice to you is to maintain a healthy work/life balance through your career.
Name: George Nowak | Program: Civil Engineering | Graduation Year: 7T3 |
I received two great pieces of advice from the Dean of Civil Engineering at U of T and a senior (Rockstar) professor when I graduated in 1973: 1. “You don’t know anything – you leave here with a hopefully logical mind and everything you will learn in you career will be after you leave here”, and 2. “Go into construction first to see how things are constructed and then go into design”. I followed both pieces of advice and they have served me well. The other fine piece of advice is from Larry King: ” I remind myself each morning that nothing I say today will teach me anything – if I am to learn then I must listen”. So after 47 years since my convocation, and working in what is now 33 countries, I can say that its been blast and the advice is still valid – still working and enjoying my career.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-nowak-42669085/
Name: Inna Sharsf | Program: Engineering Science | Graduation Year: 8T6 |
I wish I knew how to better manage stress and anxiety. One of the most powerful techniques I learned later in life is the 3 A’s: Acknowledge, Accept and Action.
Acknowledge: get into the habit of clearly acknowledging what is bothering you, what you are worried about, what you are afraid of. Say it out loud in a private space, write it out in your journal, think it out in your head. ‘I acknowledge that I am worried about …’ Do it as soon as you become aware of the anxiety or stress, even if it means getting up in the middle of the night and sitting in a quiet spot for a few minutes.
Accept: that’s all there is, simply take a breath and accept whatever is bothering you, whatever you are worried about or whatever you are afraid of. Say to yourself: I accept my situation, I accept my worry, I accept that I am afraid of ….
Action: this is where you make a conscious decision on what you are going to do about your situation. The choices are ‘infinite’ and have to make sense to you. They can be: writing an email, asking someone to help, delegating a task, having a talk with your partner, going to see a counselor, dropping some projects, or even simply sitting still and breathing for 10 minutes.
Over the years, I found this technique to be incredibly powerful for managing stress and anxiety. I wish I learned about it 35 years ago…
Name: John Roeleveld | Program: Geological Engineering | Graduation Year: 8T7 |
Be open minded to new opportunities: after completing my Engineer-in-Training program at my first job I was asked if I would consider working as a Sales Engineer. I took the offer even though I had never thought of sales as a career for me. Over 30 years later I’m still enjoying working in sales and although I’m in a position that doesn’t require an engineering background, I have maintained by professional engineering status. The discipline of an engineering education is no doubt a springboard to success in any career that you may ultimately end up in.
Name: William Cheung | Program: BASc | Graduation Year: 9T0 |
I’ve been in the software development business for 30 years now and when I interview for new hires at various companies I’ve worked at, I don’t look at the candidate’s academics. I look at their work experience. So even if you didn’t get honours, don’t worry. Work terms or PEY matter more if you’re looking for a career in programming, as I did back in 1990.
Name: Brian Clark | Program: Industrial Engineering | Graduation Year: 7T0 |
I’m seventy-three years old. Here’s what I know…
Workplace — If you do not enjoy going to work each day, then you are in the wrong job. Make a move sooner rather than later. Find a job that you enjoy and it is no longer ‘work.’
Outside the Workplace — Your career will provide funding for life’s necessities (food, shelter, clothing, etc.). But it is also essential for you to find outside interests that feed your ‘head’ (e.g., continuing education, a hobby, research, travel, etc.) and also your ‘heart’ (e.g., working at a food bank, volunteering at your place of worship, tutoring and mentoring youngsters, etc.)
Strive for a balance between a happy job, a healthy mind and a contribution to society. I promise you will sleep well, live well and love well. Good luck out there…
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarky/
Name: Murtaza Bohra | Program: Eng Sci – Aerospace | Graduation Year: 1T2 |
The most important thing I got out of my education was the ability to educate myself. Institutions such as the University of Toronto are really here to guide you as you yourself embark on a path of self-learning. The industry out there does not care too much if you are missing a skill or background, as long as you’re willing to step up and learn. Keep moving forward!
Name: Frank Frantisak | Program: Engineering | Graduation Year: 0T9 Honorary Degree Holder|
This is one the most important points of your life – graduating after all of your very hard work – it is just the beginning… You can achieve any goals you set for yourself if you persist and be innovative. If one way does not work for you find another way. There is always a better way to accomplish your goals. Never give up.
It worked for me in my 87 years of my life.
I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK and GREAT FUTURE. The world is changing fast….