"The World is your Oyster. It doesn't mean you will be given anything. Use all your transferable skills you developed and apply them to every situation going forward. You will not land your perfect job right away. A pearl starts as an irritating grain of sand. Over time with applied effort it becomes the pearl. Luck only comes after hard work."
-BA Psychology (Hons), '78
"Congratulations Graduating Class of 2026! Find community; work for love. ‘Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely.' --Clarissa Pinkola Estes"
-BA Film Production, '77
"Practice networking, collaboration as much as possible in the work world. You have skills and information that you can share with others. No one can possibly know everything in a given field, be open to listening."
-BA Sociology, '75
"The world is open to you. You don't have to stay in one place or one country. You don't have to take the first job you are offered. Be humble and kind. The world will reward you."
-BA Psychology, '78
"Volunteer and/or coach in your community. When you get older and wealthier, give back to York and support all the worthy charities you can. Read actual books!!!! Always stay positive and look for the sunshine in every day!"
-BA English & Literature (Hons) '68
"Always cherish your time at York. Never get discouraged and remember your education is something NO ONE can take away. Go out and conquer the world. We need our young and educated people more than ever. Congrats."
-BA, '75
"Leaders make decisions, but decisions make the leader."
-LLB, '75
"Pursue new experiences, volunteer, travel off the beaten track. But try not to collect souvenirs to remind you of what you did and saw. Memories suffice and unlike stuff - don’t weigh you down."
-MES, '79
"Congratulations!
Life Advice?
(not necessarily in this order)
Stay healthy.
Do your best.
Don't give up.
Make friends.
Plan ahead.
(Have a backup plan!)
Be kind.
Let happiness be your guide."
-BA Fine Arts, '75
"Set your goals and work hard to achieve them. You may have to start at the bottom and work your way to the top but you learn so much on this journey. Best of luck in all of your future endeavors."
-BA, '70
"Do not mistake credentials for wisdom, information for knowledge, or motion for progress. Learn to think clearly, speak honestly, build something useful, and become someone others can depend on. The world does not need more performers of virtue. It needs steady people with courage, competence, and character."
-BA (Hons) Economics, '79
"Be Fearless. Grab job and life experiences- especially the unexpected. Don’t overthink. Keep your friends. They grow more precious with each passing year."
-BA (Hons) Film, '75
"Your York education serves as your foundation! While it is good to have a specialization, it is even better that York insisted on your having a wide spectrum of courses, because all that general info comes in handy in the most unpredictable ways."
-BA (Hons) Fine Arts, '73
"Don't listen to "follow your passion". Instead follow the money. Passions change, but you always need money. Plus, extra money buys you passions on the weekend."
-BA (Hons) Psychology & MBA, '73 & '75
"We learn more from our failures than our successes! Work hard at trying not to make the same mistakes twice."
-BA (Hons) Geography/Urban Studies & MES Urban Planning, '70 & '72
"Don't spend your money foolishly and self-indulgently and then complain you can't afford a car or house. Save and invest."
-BA English Literature, '76
"One overall message: don’t worry right now where you’ll be a few years from now, or certainly the rest of your career. You really can’t predict where you’ll be and what you’ll have done 50 years from now. Take things one step at a time."
-MSc & PhD Biology, '71 & '74
"Know thyself and question thyself regularly"
-HBA Psychology, '76
"Live Excellence and have fun!"
-BSc, '71 & JD, '74
"Maintain a life purpose that encourages kindness, peace and justice. Enhancing the wellbeing of others will also deepen your own life satisfaction."
-BA (Hons) Psychology, '77
"Getting your degree is a huge accomplishment. As you go out into the world of work and life, do your best in all you do. Be kind. Act with integrity. Do no harm. These values will give you a wonderful life no matter what you struggle through."
-BFA, '76
"Congratulations to all on this achievement. I know it didn't come easy - so congrats on staying the course - pun intended! I can't profess to be wise, but what I can say is: don't think there is now only one door for you to walk through. Sometimes the unexpected door is the one that opens up a whole new world of possibility and joy."
-BFA, '75
"Nothing is as strong as true gentleness and nothing is as gentle as true strength."
-BA, '71
"Challenge all you've been taught. Seek out what you have not been taught."
-MES, '77
"This isn’t the end of a chapter—it’s the start of your story. Go do something amazing."
-BEd, '72
"Congratulations to all on this achievement. I know it didn't come easy - so congrats on staying the course - pun intended! I can't profess to be wise, but what I can say is: don't think there is now only one door for you to walk through. Sometimes the unexpected door is the one that opens up a whole new world of possibility and joy."
-BFA, '75
"Having recently retired having my own enterprise and like life itself you will find that the tortoise beats the hare. Slow and steady wins the race and all that good stuff."
-BSc Liberal Science, '74
"Your body and your intuition are your greatest guides. Trust your gut! Trust your instincts. When something feels off, it is. When something feels right, it is."
-BA Psychology, '74
"Your best satisfaction will come from what you love doing and what you become very good at. As you learn and experience more to become outstanding in your chosen profession, remember to enjoy the journey."
-BA, '73
"Life is not a race…twists and turns, obstacles and obstructions are constant challenges. Be prepared as best you can and enjoy the journey as much as you can."
-BA, '76
"Aim High, Always Strive for the Best, Tentanda Via"
-BA Social Science, '79
"Be confident. Trust your instincts. Follow your heart."
-BSc Biology, '72