Lessons, challenges and looking ahead: 4 U of T students reflect on their path to graduation

Every student’s path to graduation at the University of Toronto is unique.

And each of the more than 4,000 students from 86 countries who are expected to cross the stage inside Convocation Hall from Oct. 27 to Oct. 30 has their own story to tell.

Among them are students who dove into cutting-edge research, balanced academics and athletics, championed sustainability and built their communities.

Four soon-to-be graduates reflect on the challenges, lessons and passions that shaped their U of T journey.

Varsity Blues swimmer Michael Sava became a pro at balancing the demands of training in the pool and meeting academic deadlines through careful planning and clear communication with coaches and professors.

On Oct. 27, he’ll graduate with a double major in human biology and physiology and a minor in immunology as a member of Victoria College – and then immediately begin a U of T master’s program in medical physiology.

Inspired by his great-uncle and aunt, who were physicians in Romania, Sava hopes to one day attend medical school.

“I feel like medicine is a very service-oriented field and you dedicate a lot of your time and energy to help others and their lives,” he says. “And that kind of stuck with me.”

As he explores new fields such as biotechnology and medical innovation during his master’s degree, Sava will continue to compete with the Varsity Blues swim team. He credits the sport with teaching him discipline and time management.

He says he also found community – both within his team and as a proud member of Victoria College.

“It’s tough to meet people by just going to class,” he says. “With the college system, there are lots of opportunities within that to build community and create lifelong connections. It’s truly special.”

After a rocky start at another university, Ashley Pozzo found her stride at U of T Mississauga.

When she first transferred, she wasn’t sure she’d made the right choice by keeping her major in life sciences. Then she reached out to a career counsellor on campus – and suddenly everything clicked. 

“She spent a lot of time with me going over what my interests are, and what my goals were,” Pozzo said.

“She really listened and said, ‘You know what, you really seemed to like psychology, this could be a good major for you.’ She was right.”

Pozzo will graduate on Oct. 29 with a major in psychology and minors in anthropology and sociology, capping off a university journey shaped by involvement in campus clubs and the close-knit environment of U of T Mississauga’s campus. 

Now a recruitment counsellor, she travels to schools and post-secondary fairs, helping prospective students navigate their next steps.

“They can talk to me about what the programs are like – (I’m) answering questions about prerequisites, applications,” said Pozzo, who is now pursuing an online master’s degree in counselling.

“I try to encourage them with the good things about U of T and UTM.”

Reflecting on her PhD journey, Maxine Kirshenbaum says the toughest challenge wasn’t managing the workload in the lab, but the mental demands.

“You have to learn how to compartmentalize,” she says. “It’s a good skill to have.”

Originally from Toronto, Kirshenbaum returned to U of T for her PhD after completing her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Dalhousie University. On Oct. 29, she’ll cross the stage inside Convocation Hall to receive her PhD in physical chemistry. Her research focused on the chemistry and physics of nanocrystals, specifically colloidal quantum dots, which have applications in energy, displays and environmental technologies.  

Now a postdoctoral researcher at U of T, she is collaborating with industry partners to develop sustainable materials while expanding her skills in coding and simulations.

Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age seven, Kirshenbaum has been open about her experiences to help reduce stigma and promote greater awareness of neurodiversity in academia.

Her advice to new graduate students: seek support early and embrace errors.

“We’re supposed to learn through mistakes,” she says. “You want to break it to put it back together.”

An international student from China, Ruiqi Liu, who goes by Serina, found herself adjusting to a new culture and community when she first began her studies at U of T Scarborough – all amid a global pandemic. So, she threw herself into campus life – working, volunteering and building new friendships.

“I went from someone who didn’t know how to make small talk to someone who now mentors others,” she says.

This month, Liu will graduate with a master’s degree in environmental science – a full-circle moment after completing a bachelor of science degree at U of T Scarborough with a double major in environmental science and psychology.

Her passion for sustainability began early, with childhood memories of helping her family sort waste at home. 

“What drew me to environmental science was its multidisciplinary nature,” she says. “Through my undergraduate studies and my outreach work at the UTSC Sustainability Office, I came to understand that sustainability requires more than science alone: it needs advocates, communicators and leaders from diverse backgrounds.”

Liu also gained meaningful experiences through her work at the Health & Wellness Centre, the Centre for Teaching and Learning and the International Student Centre. She dedicated additional time to volunteering in three mentorship programs, helping other students find their footing and earning an array of awards and recognitions.

She’s most excited about what comes next. 

“It feels like the beginning of a future filled with new possibilities.”

With files from Kate Martin