BEEDIE LUMINARIES— With over 300 mentors in the Beedie Luminaries program providing guidance and support to students across all four of scholarship streams, we are proud to say that mentorship is undoubtedly an integral part of what makes this program unique.
Most recently, Beedie’s very own Jeremy Golden joined the existing 20+ mentors from within the company to guide a Luminary as they navigate their post-secondary journey.
Jeremy, who joined Beedie in 2022 as a Development Coordinator, received his Bachelor of Arts in Applied Economics from Queen’s University before completing his MBA at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business. Now, with an affinity for real estate design and construction, he mentors Will Symington from our 2022 Cohort of the Beedie Luminaries Grade 12 program.
Our mentee, Will, is currently studying Resources and Environment Management (Planning Stream) at Simon Fraser University. When Will isn’t busy being a second-year student, he fills his time with outdoor adventures and his love for music.
In this article, we dive into a little more into the both our new mentor and the mentee to learn what mentorship means to them and the relationship that lies ahead.
Hello, you two! We’re so glad you met. Let’s dive right in.
How would you describe yourself? What are three qualities you most like about yourself?
JEREMY: I would say above anything I’m energetic. It’s a blessing and a curse, in that I can’t sit still for very long but I’m always moving, learning, growing, and experiencing new things, learning new things, meeting new people, or visiting new places, I’m always excited about discovering the unknown. Another aspect I’m proud of is my positive attitude. I believe in looking for the silver lining in challenging situations and staying hopeful. Lastly, I value my ability to keep things light. I enjoy using humor and a relaxed approach to make the environment more enjoyable for myself and those around me. These qualities are a continuous journey for me, and I’m thankful for the experiences that have helped me develop them.
WILL: I would describe myself as a pretty introspective person. I tend to spend a lot of time assessing my own thoughts and behaviour, sometimes to a fault. Most of the time I consider it to be a good thing, but it occasionally results in me being a little bit overcritical of myself. I’m very proud of my personability, and speaking skills. I love to connect with other people and learn from others. Another quality I am proud of is my adaptability. I am always happy to embrace change, whether it be by my own accord, or out of my control. Lastly, I would consider myself a pretty ambitious person. I believe in dreaming big. I have found the people who inspire me most are those who persevere through hardship and achieve amazing things, something I aspire towards.
Sounds like you make a great pair. What does a mentor mean to you?
JEREMY: Someone who can guide you through professional and personal development in a casual, comfortable and meaningful way.
WILL: A mentor, to me, is someone who can provide support and guidance, but also critique your behavior. As young adults, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the here and now. A mentor with more lived experience and a more holistic perspective can help reframe your thinking. The first great mentor I had was a high school English teacher, who did exactly this. I find the most rewarding mentor relationships are those in which both parties are able to learn more about themselves through one another.
Is what you’re doing right now what you thought you’d be doing at the start of your post-secondary journey?
JEREMY: In undergrad, I studied Economics and Global Development. At the time, I really had no idea what I wanted to do, but I knew where I wanted to be. Vancouver always had a special place in my heart because of its unique big city feel with a close proximity to nature. It wasn’t until I got a summer internship at a reputable Residential Development firm that I fell in love with real estate design and construction. Since then, I shored up on my work experience and pursued an MBA at the Beedie School of Business, which further honed my skills and deepened my understanding of the business aspects of real estate. This education, combined with my passion for the field, has significantly shaped my career path and aspirations.
WILL: Not necessarily. I always pictured myself doing something related to the arts when I was in high school (cooking, music, writing, etc.). I happened to stumble upon city planning courses in my second semester at University and quickly realized it could be a way for me to still exhibit creativity and make change, while pursuing something a little more stable. As for where I will be in the future, I am still not 100% sure what that will look like yet. As I grow and mature, I find that my tastes and goals change rather frequently, which I don’t necessarily think is a bad thing. I hope that I can create a future for myself in which I remain true to my beliefs and values, while becoming enriched by the perspectives and guidance of those around me.
Alright, a fun one. What’s a fact about you that not many others may know or expect of you?
JEREMY: I’m a culinary wizard: I can cook a five-star meal using only the ingredients found in a typical college student’s refrigerator. According to others, my signature dish is a gourmet ramen fusion that has earned rave reviews from friends and family.
WILL: I can play five instruments and I have a bunny named Nutella!
Last one is for the mentor only. What’s one thing you wish someone had told you earlier on in your post-secondary years or in your career? Do you have any advice to share?
JEREMY: I wish someone had told me that you don’t need to have it all figured out right away. For me, this was never obvious – yet it turns out the answers come with time. I find myself continuing to figure it out a little more each day, and it’s not so much a bad thing!
Thank you both!
We’ll catch you next time!
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