The Graduate
A wonderful day for my daughter. She received her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Waterloo.
A very proud father and mother were there to celebrate her achievement. For some reason, I brought my camera. Here are a few photos from the convocation.
Robert Kaplan addressed the convocation. He is well known within business circles for his Balanced Scorecard work. Using the Balanced Scorecard as a framework for life, he gave some excellent insight into career, life, community and family.
His comments on career are similar to others I have heard — pursue a career that you love because you will be working at it for a long time.
He encouraged developing interests outside of work and becoming really, really good at those interests. He also highlighted that giving back to the community was vital. And he spoke of the importance of family.
After the convocation had finished, we went outside to take some pictures and then to a nice restaurant to congratulate our daughter. When the meal had ended, my daughter and I were sitting together in the lounge waiting for my wife. I looked at my daughter and I thought about the time we had spent together over the years.
Certain memories just came to me. When she was not much older than a toddler, I would take her outside on the front porch to watch thunderstorms. I found myself back there.
We used to have a routine where the two of us would do something together. And suddenly I found myself in a bookstore with her. Wandering through the aisles. Lost in the promise of an adventure buried in bindings, paper and ink.
Then I found myself thinking about the trip the two of us took together to Walt Disney World.
All of those memories, and many more, went through my mind as I looked at this wonderful young lady. I am so proud of her.