Present U of G students respond with importance of great alumni
As the University of Guelph celebrates it’s 50th anniversary this year, one of the easiest things to do is jump on a virtual tour of the past. A lot can happen in 50 years, specifically on the grounds where thousands upon thousands have purposely stopped to make U of G a significant notch along their own personal life path. The humble attitude that naturally comes with the Gryphon status is largely at fault for hiding away the alumni who experience success after graduation.
Despite it’s claim to fame with deep, irremovable roots in the agriculture school, the University of Guelph has graduates in all walks of life representing the red and gold proudly, including: Olympic athletes, international hockey players, psychotherapists, CBC’s first female radio broadcaster, renowned journalists, writers, editors, and many more.
Current students like Kayla Besse have made note of the often-kept secret of diversity so evidently found within our alumni. “Once you become part of the Guelph community you realize that not everyone here is an Aggie or a Vet school hopeful,” Besse, an English major, explained. “This diversity should be celebrated and emphasized to prospective students, as it’s something to be proud of.”
When comparing three or four-year programs to 50 years, it’s fairly easy to recognize how quickly the time goes. With all the responsibility that comes with being a university student, constantly having an eye (and occasionally both) on the prize that lays ahead forces a lot of us to miss the time intended to allow us to just be students and to enjoy everything that comes with it.
Even with programmed minds set to watch the future, every so often the past catches up, pulling you right back to present day. In this case, that forceful yet humble past is the powerful University of Guelph alumni who have made current students take a second to consider what it means when past meets present.
“It never hit me that everyone has to start somewhere,” Solange Almeida, a third year Biomedical Science student said of the incredible success of Guelph alumni. “It was interesting to realize that so many really amazing people got that start here at U of G.”
Students have even taken into account the success of those who still walk among them. “Just looking at our faculty, and some of the achievements that undergrad and graduate students have done, makes it totally plausible that there is so much talent here,” Ashley DeSouza, a Psychology major, explained.
Outside of graduated success, there is comfort to be found in the shared failure and struggle of those who, at one point or another, sat in the same classrooms, walked the same hallways, and fought the same frustrations. “[Alumni] obstacles make me think that I can get over my own,” Almeida explained. “Knowing that many successful people have gone through difficulties in their time as a student makes me believe that if you really want something, you can achieve it.”
There is no doubt that students often feel like their path is headed towards the deep end of a pool full of freezing water, but hearing about the paths of those before them has helped many, including DeSouza, gain some perspective. “To know not all paths to success are easy, or necessarily straight and smooth… it proves that hard work, even in the face of obstacles, will almost always bring you somewhere positive,” DeSouza said.
This is a testament to the great people who have survived the task of being a student, and look back with nothing but appreciation. Current students have taken notice, and have taken the public struggles and genuine advice to heart. “The ‘Don’t be afraid to change your path’ sticks out to me,” Besse explained, adding that she is really working on letting go of other’s expectations. “It shows education is really a stepping-stone, not a definitive end point.”
It is quite evident that even a seemingly never-ending amount of snow and an attitude full of modesty can’t cover up the large footprints left behind by past University of Guelph students. This is, however, a good thing in every possible way, as current Gryphons look to fill their shoes. “I hope my ‘Alumni Spotlight’ reflects someone who knows what they want and stands confidently behind it, whatever that may be,” Besse said of how she hopes future students see her, adding that a dream of photojournalism is something she wishes to bring to life.
“I would hope it would say that I achieved my goal of becoming a pediatrician,” Almeida explained of her future aspirations. “That I save lives, because it’s all I ever wanted. I hope it says I ended up exactly where I always dreamed I would.”
As they so often say, history repeats itself. It is so important to know where an institution has been, how far it’s come, and those who have made it everything it is today. With the past of the University of Guelph, there is every indication that current shoes will leave even bigger imprints on these grounds. Just be sure to pay attention to those leading the way.