Reflection

Classes of 2014 has just started, at least for me!

It’s hard to fathom that almost five (5) years has already elapsed since taking my first steps on the UBC campus back in in 2009 and to now when I start my first post. One of the biggest successes of being a student at UBC is actually being able to be a UBC student. Gaining admission to UBC was a great feat of success for me. After admission into UBC, I remember clearly in my first two years I felt invincible, that UBC degree can get me anything. I was admitted into the general studies program and I only put in the bare minimum of effort (B-) thinking it was enough to achieve great success. How wrong I was. Degrees do not compensate for lack of effort and more importantly it cannot compensate for wasted time. This became very apparent to myself in my third year of study and thereafter for everything I did I put in a greater effort. Over my next two years, I consistently improved my grades and in my previous winter term (2013W) I achieved an average of (A) with 27 percentage graded credits. To graduate with a general studies degree does not affect my confidence and I encourage other students in my position to not let it affect yourself either. Having general arts or general science may look dismal in terms of specializations but there are also benefits to being jack of all trades rather than master of one.

My progress through UBC has really shown me there is no dead end in life and opportunities are proportional to one’s effort, we can all excel in areas we choose, given that we pay our efforts into it. If I can do it, I am sure that every other UBC student can also do it.