If you're anything like me, when you're gripped by a story and it tugs at your heart, you suddenly turn the page to see if there is another chapter. I have recently come to the place in my life where yet another chapter is finished, and the next is yet to be written.
Those of you who have heard about my TikTok lives, or heard me speaking in some capacity, know how much I value education — whether it was my early elementary years, or whether it was the beginning of university, how I came in thinking I would study psychology, went to social work, and finally settled on the pursuit of wisdom: philosophy.
On June 8th, from 2:30 to 4:45 p.m., I was actively living out the conclusion of the chapter of my story known as my undergraduate degree. But as you and I both know, what makes a story beautiful is not just the concept of the story itself, but its content — its places, its people, the experiences that it captures. So I want to take a few moments to tell you about what that day was like, and who was there to celebrate it.
The day begins with a mix of emotions: excitement for the day ahead, but also a realization that once I walk across the stage and exit this gymnasium, the world I inhabited — the places and people I interacted with every week, from September to April, since I was 17 years old — will forever change. It is what the philosophers who study phenomenology call the epochal world: the world we can observe, but can no longer interact with and change. That was going to be my relationship with Vancouver Island University.
So who will I remember when I look upon a world I can no longer affect in the same way?
First of all, I must acknowledge my loving family. While my time at university is an epoch that is closing, their care and support remain a constant in my continuing story. Looking back at this specific chapter, I will always remember how they drove me to VIU three days a week for a majority of my time. We spent early mornings ensuring that I was ready to go to class, and late evenings as I frantically rushed to get that essay in before 11:59 p.m. I will forever cherish their patience as I verbally processed all that I had learned, and their absolute excitement to celebrate with me on the day of my graduation.
Dr. Robert Pepper-Smith, who introduced me to the beauty of philosophy and the existentialist tradition. He truly took the time to share his story and experiences with the world — whether that was sharing his experiences working with medical professionals and medical ethics, or bringing philosophical concepts to life with stories of Roberto and Lucia. He truly exhibited a person who wondered, marveled, and embraced the beauty of philosophy. He is the reason I wrote my honours thesis, Existentialism, Disability, and Identity.
Dr. James Atkinson, who taught me a number of courses, including my introduction to ethics, along with a variety of others. I thank him for his weekly quizzes that forced me to always be ready to give an answer that was sharp and concise — unlike this blog article.
Dr. Warren Heiti, who came into my educational career in the last three years or so, has been a great blessing and encouragement to me. I will never forget the day I came into his office feeling a little discouraged because I had spent the previous semester not taking any philosophy classes, and was feeling out of place and like I could no longer continue. I will forever remember his words as he assured me that philosophy and liberal studies are indeed my educational home.
As I've observed, it is often those that have influenced us, and have become near and dear to us, even in the professional sense, who are not just our mentors, not just our teachers — they truly become our greatest friends. And if Socrates taught us anything, it is that this happens because they challenge us, and we have to rework our viewpoints, and maybe even change them. It is because they truly understood what happiness is, for according to the Greek concepts put forward by Plato and Aristotle, happiness begins with harmony within the soul, and through that harmony we achieve true human flourishing.
Robert Pepper-Smith taught me how to be present and observe. James Atkinson taught me to be sharp and concise. And Warren Heiti taught me to drink deeply, and to have confidence that I could succeed.
And finally, my tutor and dear friend, Ben Sopow, who entered my university education as I began my second year of study, and very quickly demonstrated that he would not only attend to my needs, but seek to strengthen my skills so that I could be the best scholar I could be. Over the years, we have laughed together, we have mourned together, we have grown together. He was one of my greatest sounding boards in preparing essays and prepping for quizzes, and even in the writing of my thesis project he acted as a sort of adversary, to ensure that I fully understood my positions and could fully defend them. And yet he did so with such grace, compassion, and enthusiasm that you could tell his care and concern came from a genuine place.
So my friends, if you are graduating, or you're preparing for the next step, please do not forget the people who have helped you get there — because not only have they helped you get there, they've helped you become who you are, so that hopefully you can see who you are to become.
I would love for you to experience the moment of graduation with me. Please see the video and photos below.
Soli Deo Gloria.
