SUCCESS ASYOU

DEFINE IT
PREP-1300-12
WENDY LAN
INTERVIEWEE
TAYLOR S.
FIRST YEAR STUDENT
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCED
 How would you
define Success?
• Success comes after being told you can’t do
something, then proving them wrong.
• “Around 2 years ago I would experience
constant migraines and when it came time to
apply to and attend college, my doctor said I
could not attend at the time. I was even pulled
out of grade 12 and my part time job at Arby’s
for a month. Despite the physical pain, it was in
my heart and mind to persevere for not only
my career, but my ambitions for the future”.

3
 Do you think
that success is
over-rated? If so,
please explain.
“Yeah, because most people
assume that success is easily
obtainable for everyone when it’s
not. Some hold onto more
privileges that allow them to
become successful early, however,
nothing that is truly worth it in life
should be easy.
 • People in your life can push you only so far
What reasons and choices
led you to being where you
are at this moment?
in a certain direction, whereas your own
motivation is the most effective.
• “During my last two years of high school, I
was struggling with mental health issues
which negatively impacted my view towards
school. While my parents were concerned
for me and pushing for my education, there
was no one that could make my own
choices. The only person that could motivate
me, was me. I chose to seek help by visiting
a psychiatrist. I chose to keep going, on my
own terms”.
 Unique Discussion If you had to design a
“No two individuals have the “Sometimes it takes an outsider’s
same idea of success, so the perspective to help guide you to
course would be done mostly the next steps in your path to
course that teaches
independently and cater to a success. Discussion and career
wide variety of goals. presentations can promote this”. ‘success’ – what would
the elements/activities of
that course look like?

Research
“Everyone likes to
daydream, but the real
challenge is researching
and setting solid goals to
create real life progress”.
Networking
“Success is often not
achieved or experienced
alone, so learning how to
network and connect with
strangers is not easy but
should be a lesson taught”.
 What barriers are
you currently
experiencing or
foresee?
• Long term success can seem like a far reach
when you’re faced with short term
challenges.
• “The ultimate goal for me is to pursue
something in the biomedical field but
sometimes it can seem out of reach in the four
walls of a classroom. I have a part time job and
school to balance so it really comes down to
what I prioritize and focus on despite having
such a heavy agenda”.
Can you tell me how
does one create or
access a network of
‘successful’ people?
“SCHOOL AND MY PROFESSORS HAVE BEEN A
MAJOR ADVANTAGE FOR ME IN NETWORKING.
BUT I THINK THAT GETTING INVOLVED IN
GENERAL AND VOLUNTEERING IN AN EVENT
ORIENTED TOWARDS YOUR CAREER CAN
REALLY BENEFIT YOU IN GAINING A NETWORK”.
There are quite a large number of successful Millennials. Are there any
whom to admire/respect and why is that?

Michelle “Michelle was a huge influence on me

when I was younger. As a young girl, you go
Phan through finding your self identity and role
Makeup Artist,
Entrepreneur models. Michelle would make YouTube
videos on expressing yourself through the
art of makeup. At the same time, a lot of
girls including myself grew up with her and
I find that she’s a great advocate for self
love and acceptance”.
“You can absolutely be successful
without employment. Getting THE FUTURE SEEMS TO BE DEFINED BY
accepted into post-secondary,
graduate studies, medical school; LESS JOB AVAILABILITY; HOW WOULD YOU
these should still be celebrated and
deemed as a success. Some people DEFINE A SUCCESSFUL PERSON (WHO IS
measure success with monetary value
but education is huge and will grant
you several open doors and networks NOT/WILL NEVER BE EMPLOYED)?
for the future”.