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I am interested in how we, as a society, are able to get together to make things happen
that wouldn't happen otherwise . And whether or not we are able to design public policies
that will make that easier or not. There are so many things in our lives that only happen
because of this sort of collection action. We wouldn't have... there are parks, there
are museums, there are so many activities in the community that only exist because people
support them through their philanthropic activity. And so, it enriches so many people's lives,
and, how could we do that better. Today, we believe that education, at the university
level, is not only what happens inside the classroom but also what happens outside of
the classroom. All activities, be they conferences, seminars, trips abroad, internships, etc.
What donations help us to achieve is a complement to the fundamental education presented inside
of the classroom, which is usually more theoretical, with opportunities and the creation of opportunities,
of putting concepts into practice to better understand the pragmatic aspects of how theories
are applied on-the-ground. Without these donations, we would not be able to offer such a well-rounded
education. We'd offer a more of a theoretical education. However now, thanks to donations,
we are capable of offering a more well-rounded education. Receiving a scholarship from the
large community of supporters and donors at uOttawa, enables me, and many of my peers,
to focus on my studies and it has actually enriched me in my direction currently. So,
for example, I am now beginning my Master's at Ottawa U in Public and International Affairs
and very grateful that I once again have a scholarship so that I can focus on that Master's
really benefitting from all of the incredible opportunities at the Graduate School of Public
and International Affairs: mentorship, work experience that is more voluntary, all sorts
of things that I would not be able to do necessarily and really take advantage of if I had to run
to a part time job, run to pay those tuition bills. So it's a really incredible thing,
now that I am beginning my Master's, and having just finished my undergrad in Psychology,
looking back and really recognizing that all of this has allowed me to do so much. I wouldn't
have been able to be so engaged in community work and volunteerism were it not for those
scholarships and so I am led to say thank-you! Thank-you for what you have enabled me to
do as a student, as a young activist, student leader in various ways, you've enabled me
to focus on what's really important... on my own studies and my own success, but also
on making the community, the campus, a rich and vibrant place to be. I think from a business
standpoint and certainly in real estate, it's often conveyed that time and money is really
important and that pretty much is all that matters in business. Unfortunately, that leaves
out one key element which I think is essential to that equation which is gestures. A great
example of gestures would be connecting a student with a community leader in the field
of study. And the fact that you can look back and say that you've impacted their lives greatly.
When I heard I'D received that scholarship, I said, ... no! It's... wow! It really did
happen at the best possible time for me. I am the single mother of two girls. I study
full-time. I have a little part time job where I work on-call. This scholarship was a huge
inspiration for my eldest daughter who attended the ceremony and said: "Wow, mommy, you got
a scholarship! That's huge! You got a scholarship and that's proof that you can do it, mommy!
It inspires me, and I want to go to university too!" and I said yes, but you have to work
hard to get there, sweetie! Canada and the World Economy is a project that benefits Faculty
members, graduate students, undergraduate students, in the Department of Economics and
brings 3 visiting speakers a year to the department to speak, to give research seminars. It allows
everybody to interact with this visiting speaker. One of the things that is special about giving
and in particular about giving to the project Canada and the World Economy is the way that
it allows us to close the circle, to involve undergraduates, graduates, faculty, alumni,
and for us all together to make something possible that enriches all of our lives. And
without that cooperation, without that sharing, it simply wouldn't have happened. Ultimately,
I believe most people in life want to be part of something far greater than themselves.
Because I cherished it so much... why wouldn't I give back? A donation can, in fact, change
someone's life. I am a good example of this. I received a doctoral scholarship and I found
myself in a country that was unfamiliar to me. I lived an absolutely extraordinary experience
there, not only on a personal and human level, but also as an economist-in-the-making. There
I was, in Brazil, at a time when the economy was undergoing something extraordinary. It
not only influenced the content of my thesis, of course, it greatly influenced the content
of my thesis, but it also allowed me to work on projects that were somewhat original and
which would otherwise have been inaccessible to me. And this experience not only changed
my professional life, but I'd say it also impacted my personal life. Because, well,
I met my wife there. Mostly, I think it opened up my mind, my eyes and my ears to economic
stakes and to how they are a lot more complex than we'd think or than they appear to be
in the books and articles that we read. Studies have shown it clearly: single mothers who
are caught in the circle of poverty can only really get out of it through education. But
doing your studies, as a parent, and as a parent that has to run here and run there,
without anyone's help, is a huge undertaking. And me, I want to say thank-you, once again,
because you supported me, you helped alleviate that burden, and that allowed me to finish
my undergraduate degree with a splash. And now, here I am beginning my Master's. I say
to you, very simply and from the bottom of my heart, thank-you so much. I'd like donors
to understand that not only are their gestures appreciated, but also, that more often than
not, their gifts change lives. Because they create opportunities for our students which,
in turn, create other opportunities, and as such, change lives. Together we are stronger
than we would be if we were each acting independently and for me, as a researcher, for me, as a
Faculty member, for me as a member of the community, it's very exciting to be part of
a project that makes that kind of thing possible. I came across a great quote one day. It read:
"You've never really lived until you have done something for somebody who can never
repay you." So I challenge you, to pay it forward, with all you have: time, money and/or
gestures.