Events

How to Create a Lasting Impression

by Teg Brar


LOT and CYP participants were treated to an entertaining and inspirational, address by Sam Thiara, SFU Manager of Student Engagement. In his message "Create a Lasting Impression" Sam reinforced the notion of creating a positive impact on others. His engaging talk centered on personal and professional experiences and focused on four keys to a successful career.

  1. Vision: Most people see but do not have a vision. People should build their careers around their passions and have a clear vision of their goals and how to achieve them.
  2. Choices: We must believe in the choices we make everyday. Sam illustrated this point by a personal example of how he left ICBC to pursue his dreams and joined the 2010 Olympic Bid committee. One must be prepared to take risks to be successful and celebrate achievements.
  3. Limitations: Through personal experiences Sam illustrated that we should never take life for granted and enjoy every day. We impose limitations on ourselves; Terry Fox ran cross Canada with a prosthetic leg by putting his spirit and body into what he wanted to achieve.
  4. Persistence: Sam reiterated the importance of building persistence into character. One must set realistic expectations and not give up easily. He shared an example of his journey to discovering his roots in a remote village in India. He also narrated his experience of rejection and defeat when his countless attempts to carry the Olympic torch were turned down.

In his closing remarks Sam discussed the benefits of creating a good portfolio that represents you. He encouraged everyone to discover ways to have a positive impact on others, to enjoy the journey and not focus too much on the destination. "Life is an autobiography, make yours worth reading". He concluded by reciting the poem "The Station" by Robert Hastings.

We would like to thank our venue host (SFU Business) for having us and Mr. Thiara for his words of inspiration. Please visit www.sfu.ca to learn more about the various programs offered by Simon Fraser University.