“One of my favourite quotes that I shared with my students on their last day of class was: “don't pretend like you hit a home run if you were born on third base.””
What is a story that gave this phrase significance for you?
“A number of years ago I met a woman on the streets of London asking for groceries. I took her to a store, and in the matter of a 20 minute conversation I lost many of my preconceived notions of why people are in the position they are. I remember her quoting her mother saying: “We complain about not having a shoe when there are others who do not even have a leg.” And for her to say that in her position was a humbling experience because she did not have much.The lady even felt guilty asking me to buy her cheese because to her it felt like luxury. She just wanted bread and milk to feed her two school-aged children. She was grateful despite her circumstances. The lady also had a strong desire and passion to do what she loved. Once her kids got older, she planned to go to school for a degree in mechanics because she grew up working in the garage with her dad and she loves working with her hands…”
“…At this time I was studying at Ivey, an intensive school where it is assumed that only the most motivated students attend. The lady’s stories made me realize that she was just as motivated, if not more motivated than me and my classmates at Ivey. She simply did not have the same opportunities as us because she did not have the means to achieve her goals.”












