SuccessBeyond

Prior to Seneca, I was in the hospitality field for roughly 10 years. I worked in various locations throughout Canada and enjoyed travelling. However, that career path wasn’t for me. After working in a hotel in Banff, I saw many opportunities in the environmental and engineering sector and was very intrigued by the industry. I moved back to Toronto and continued to work in the hospitality industry until I was ready to pay for school. After doing some research, I decided to enrol in the Enviromental Technology program at Seneca due to the positive feedback I heard from friends and colleagues.

Professors can help make or break the program. In this case, they made a program that was essential to the understanding of what is expected in the real world. Most professors went above and beyond for their students. They wanted to see students succeed and would help in any possible way. Seneca’s environment was very positive, had appropriate facilities, and had well-managed classrooms.

The student and teacher interactions. Additionally, the fieldwork and hands-on experience offered was very memorable.

I pursued a degree because I felt the market could be very competitive. Many organizations now require some sort of degree or diploma as an educational background. Diplomas provide hands-on experience, while degrees provide a more theory-based approach, and I was looking for both experiences.

I wanted to be more of an expert in the field. As technology advances, having a master’s degree can be beneficial in a variety of professions that use geographic information systems (GIS) software and applications. Again, the competitive market also gave me that push to pursue a master’s degree.

Seneca’s vocational education allowed me to understand the skills needed and let me put them into practice. My undergraduate degree was all theory with no hands-on experience; however, Seneca provided that opportunity. This helped me to further understand the theoretical portion of my education.

I completed my diplomas and degrees back-to-back, so it was an easy transition; however, I was in school for a lengthy time. The difference is that Seneca’s and Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) programs were very hands-on, while the bachelor’s at Royal Roads was more theory-based.

Apply for scholarships and really understand what you’re getting yourself into. From my experience, the GIS programs were very fast-paced and a lot of work. Every week there was an assignment due, discussions and modules to complete, and quizzes to take. Do your research on programs, contact the program coordinators, and make sure this is something you feel you can accomplish.

The biggest tip I can provide is to have good time management. Make time to do schoolwork and your job, but most importantly, factor in breaks, spend time with family and friends and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

I am currently spending time with my wife and daughter and keeping busy with mini vacations. As far as academia goes, I am currently completing and publishing my master’s report with VIU. I am currently employed by the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury as a GIS analyst.

The plan is to go back to school, but not as a student! Once certain things have settled, I want to become a part-time professor for a GIS program/course.