Ryan Thaulad
Windsor Secondary School Graduate, Class of 2021
A first-year student at Capilano University, Ryan is actively and purposefully setting the course for his future while also continuing to give back to the community that had such a significant positive impact on his childhood. He wants to contribute to making Parkgate and the East of Seymour/Deep Cove community a place where young people always feel welcomed and valued. Ryan understands the value of belonging and making connections. As he begins his post-secondary journey, Ryan plans to keep learning and using his knowledge to help people and to make a positive difference in the world.
Who is someone that made a difference in your life?
Until his senior year at Windsor Secondary, Ryan had always imagined himself becoming a dentist. However, after enrolling in Ms. So’s grade 12 accounting class, his plans for the future changed dramatically. Ms. So showed Ryan how a career in business could be very interesting and something worth exploring. As well as explaining accounting techniques, she talked about the business world and through her daily interactions, inspired Ryan. “It was a really fun class”. Ryan learned the world is an exciting and constantly changing place; this dynamic view of the world fits well with his outlook on life: “If you don’t like the journey, then it’s never really worth it. If you only want the thing at the top of the hill, but you don’t like the journey, then it’s not worth doing.” This sense of “journey” is what guides Ryan as he lays out his path to the future.
As a first-year student at Capilano University, Ryan is most interested in studying marketing and accounting; important skills to master on his path to becoming an entrepreneur. A temporary Cap U teacher with a strong background in marketing, shared some of his real-world experiences with the class, showing how marketing can be both exciting and meaningful. This teacher’s lessons have inspired Ryan to delve deeper into the world of marketing.
Ryan is now in the process of applying to transfer to UBC’s commerce program. It is challenging but he is enjoying the process. According to Ryan, the questions on the application form “help me explore myself”. Ryan has asked Ms. So to be one of his references for his UBC application.
If Ryan’s attitude towards his education, reflects his outlook on life then his future looks bright. “School itself is what you make of it and you seek out your own opportunities for learning and inspiration”. He has big plans for himself and is working hard to realize them.
Ryan’s Connection to Parkgate:
Growing up near Parkgate, Ryan went to the preteen after-school drop-ins in grades six and seven, as well as going to all the preteen dances. It was a great place to hang out with his friends and the Parkgate Youth Centre soon began to feel like a second home. Once Ryan was old enough, he began to volunteer at Parkgate and help youth younger than him experience a similar sense of connection and belonging. Now, on the cusp of his 18th birthday, Ryan looks forward to the easing of the pandemic-related restrictions so he can volunteer more time with the Parkgate Youth Centre and give back to the community that gave him so much. He knows firsthand the positive impact one person can have on the life of another.
Parkgate Society is very grateful to Ryan and the other inspiring young people who are willing to share their time, talents, and energy with us so the Parkgate Youth Centre can continue to feel like “a second home” to generations of youth.
