Welcome to fall at MacEwan – our busiest time of the year. The decision to go to university is a big one – it’s one of those leaps you take with your heart, mind and gut. It also signals that you’re ready for something to change in your life.
Walking through the halls in September always feels like a new beginning. Maybe you’re taking your first steps as an adult learner or getting ready to tackle your last year of studies… each student at MacEwan is navigating their own journey.
For me, the exciting part of the journey is one of self-discovery. I was one of those children who could hardly wait for September. In fact, I started dry runs of getting up early and prepared for school in August. My five siblings consistently rolled their eyes and teased me. I still get very excited about the Fall semester.
I hear alumni talk about how university gave them the opportunity to define who they are. Part of that comes from interacting and working on projects with different people – examining and learning from their perspectives and viewpoints.
I love to walk our halls and see and meet who’s here. Most of you start at MacEwan out of high school, but a quarter of you are older than 24. Many of you live with your parents, some of you are parents and more than 30 per cent of you rent either on or off campus. Most of you are from Alberta, but many of you are from outside the province or around the world. The vibrant diversity of MacEwan’s student body is part of what makes us special, and it enhances the depth of education and experience we offer. Seeing the world through someone else’s eyes can spark a new way of thinking about how to frame problems and find solutions.
As a MacEwan student, you also have so many choices in what you study. Take biology, for example: in high school, there’s just the one course, but MacEwan’s department of biological sciences is offering 52 unique courses just this Fall semester. We also offer classes across a wide variety of disciplines, and the faculty and instructors at MacEwan will inspire and encourage you to think big and delve deeper into subjects than you have before. Our focus on work-integrated learning means you will have opportunities to identify solutions to real-world problems, enriching your educational experience and preparing you for your journey after MacEwan, wherever it may take you.
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of classes, assignments and exams. You start to wish it was the end of the class, the end of the week, the end of the term. Then you find yourself at the end of the year realizing you didn’t make the time to take it all in.
If I have one piece of advice for you, it would be this: don’t wish your time away. Do what MacEwan Knowledge Keeper Tom Snow often advises, “be present.” Immerse yourself fully in your studies, your experiences and your community while you’re here.
Leave room to be surprised and open to new possibilities, like Matthew Kraus, who just won the Dean’s Medal for the School of Business. He started as a musician, became an accountant and now his dream is to help musicians manage their finances and learn the business side of the music industry. He’s building his unique future.
I also like Matthew’s story because life is not a linear path. Life has a certain randomness to it – it’s not always a sequential checklist. The education and skills you learn here at MacEwan will give you an edge as you navigate the world and your future – whatever that looks like. University is a great place to experiment and try new things. Some will work out for you, others might not. Along the way you’ll learn to be curious and open minded – to ask questions, do research and separate truth from fiction. These are skills the world needs now more than ever as we see misinformation and polarized views take hold.
You’re also part of the long-term success of our communities. Post-secondary education is not only a profound opportunity for you to develop your personal potential – as MacEwan alumni, you will have the skills and talent to strengthen our economy and our community. It’s why the Government of Alberta funds over 40 per cent of the cost of your education, and why organizations and businesses partner with us to offer scholarships and projects for you to work on. When you develop and share your talents, our communities benefit.
I look forward to an exciting year ahead.
Dr. Annette Trimbee
President and Vice-Chancellor