Words of wisdom
It was a year like no other for graduates of 2021
When aspirations seem so far out of reach with the uncertainties and changes of COVID-19, having a little faith and the courage to pursue dreams can lead to tremendous results.
An Olympic gold medallist, Canada's most revered and endeared fiddler, a seafaring adventurer, an interior designer and other remarkable East Coast residents share how hard work, drive and a belief in the possibilities helped them achieve their goals with some advice for this year's graduates.
NEVER STOP EVOLVING
At age 21, when Karl Lohnes told his family and friends about moving to the big city to pursue his passions in design, they all laughed.
“My father said, ‘oh, give him three months and he'll be back.' But when I got in the moving van, leaving Nova Scotia behind, and driving towards Toronto, I thought, ‘Not on your life, buddy. I'm going to show you that the decision I've made is one to keep',” recalls Lohnes.
He dared to follow his heart — even if at times it left him penniless or surviving on fast food.
“My mother said to me at one point, ‘It does not matter what you do, as long as you are working to make money.' I knew that I had to make money to pay my rent, survive and get ahead, but it was not until I accepted a job at a home decor magazine that I realized my dream,” said Lohnes.
He notes that job titles are not everything and there is a disproportionate emphasis placed on early success.
Lohnes found his “calling” in the (early) second inning of life as a newspaper columnist, the editor-at-large for Style At Home magazine, and a Canadian television personality with his stylish, nononsense decor advice.
“A lot of young people think if you haven't found your calling — let us say by age 30 — it is game over. But in business, you need at least five to 10 years of experience behind you for people to take you seriously," he said.
"Sometimes, you move, change careers — but always remember to keep climbing that ladder and never stop evolving.”
No one laughs now when Lohnes talks about his career goals.
PURSUE ADVENTURE
In July 2019, on a quiet Sunday morning while everyone was still asleep, P.E.I.'s Alan Mulholland slipped out of sight from Summerside's harbour, his eyes set on circumnavigating the world alone on a 26-foot Contessa sailboat, fondly named Wave Rover.
His adventure into wild and distant waters made newspaper headlines and had people absorbed around the world. But six months in, a rogue wave caused severe damage to the vessel, and then the coronavirus pandemic hit, bringing the circumnavigation to an end.
“After sailing solo in a small boat, for no good reason other than to follow my passion for adventure, this is my advice for new graduates," Mulholland said.
“Live in the moment and, when you run up against challenges and setbacks, embrace them, for they are some of the truest learning moments you will ever come across. Secondly, it is essential to create a vision of your future. Without a plan and the ability to execute that plan, that vision will be nothing more than a dream."
And never stop learning, he adds.
“And lastly, I leave you with this — education and preparation are lifelong pursuits. We are never fully educated or prepared, but with vision and a passion for living in the moment, ordinary people will enjoy extraordinary lives. I wish you success, happiness and fair winds on your voyage.”
Mulholland and his wife Glenda are working on their next big adventure — building from scratch a sustainable homestead while leaning on previous experience and carpentry skills. The homestead faces the sea.
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
When Natalie MacMaster places the fiddle under her chin and lets the bow slide while her fingers dance over the four strings, it is as if there is nothing else on Earth except her movement and the music.
“Being great has many definitions. The first thing is to be true to yourself and find something that you love doing,” said MacMaster, who is from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County.
She speaks from experience — MacMaster has been recognized with Juno and Grammy awards and has been inducted into the Nova Scotia Hall of Fame and is a member of the Order of Canada.
“Channel your gifts and your unique personality. I can see from successful people around me that their lives unfolded in the direction of the area they excelled at,” she notes.
MacMaster, who remains humble and motivated despite fame, encourages graduates to be proud of their interests and develop them.
“They will be your gift to the world. And through it, maintain a strong sense of charity towards your neighbours. If you keep that strong sense of charity, you will discover a ‘well' of gratitude. Finally, don't ever be scared to work hard.”
She stresses, “Developing a work ethic is incredibly important to your whole life. So do not be scared to work hard, it will never let you down. Even if something does not pan out, what you learned from working hard is eternal.”
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Kevin Snair is passionate about Hopewell Rocks Park in New Brunswick. He works as an interpretative guide at the site and captures the tides rising and falling behind his camera lens.
Not surprisingly, his photography and time-lapse videos have gone viral.
“Every time an opportunity presents itself, whether it be a chance to travel, a new job, or a new task within your job, embrace it. Jump at those opportunities and take every one of them. The more you travel and see the world, the more you appreciate where you come from," he tells graduates.
Appreciation is one of the essential lessons travel can teach, said Snair, who learned photography as a teen in British Columbia.
“You will be able to see things from different points of view. And if you do not like the job, try something else because eventually, something will click. You are going to find that thing that you are passionate about, and that's going to become what you're happy to be doing in life.”
BIG GOALS
Heather Moyse came from a small city — Summerside, P.E.I. — but that never held her back from believing in the possibilities to achieve big goals. She became a twotime Olympic gold medallist, representing Canada internationally on the world stage in bobsleigh, rugby and cycling.
“My advice to all of you is the same — be open to opportunities that present themselves along the way. For those of you who are pursuing a specific goal, do not pursue it with blinders because you may not see a fantastic opportunity pop up along the way," she tells this year's graduates.
“And for those of you that have no idea what path you want to take, be open to adventures and trying new things until you find that thing that gets you excited to get out of bed, that thing that tugs at your soul. If you stay in one place and wait for the answers, you won't find them, or they won't find you.”
Moyse penned a book, "Redefining Realistic," which encourages people to follow their path and discover their purpose.
When it comes to goals, it rarely is a straight line, she said. But having a plan is not about the guarantees. It is about the possibilities.
“There are no guarantees in sports, in school, business or in life. But believing in the possibilities allows us to challenge our assumptions about what we currently believed to be possible or impossible. It allows us to challenge the boundaries that society sets on us, test the threshold of what is possible, and discover what we are capable of,” she adds.
CHALLENGING YEAR
He was a business manager and project manager for various industries before his first election into the Nova Scotia House of Assembly as an MLA for Timberlea-Prospect in 2013 and was then reelected in 2017. In February, Ian Rankin became premier of Nova Scotia.
“I had a wonderful experience during high school. I gained lifelong friends, benefited from tremendous mentors in my teachers, and took classes on topics that fascinated me. In the end, I was ready for new challenges and new horizons," said the Liberal party leader.
Rankin advises graduates to get ready for new challenges and adventures.
“I admire you for adapting, persevering and succeeding during this challenging school year,” he said.
“I know that you will bring these skills along whatever path you choose. It may be a trade. It may be university. It may be business or the direction of an entrepreneur. Whatever path you take, you will succeed.”
Meanwhile, in P.E.I., current premier and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party Dennis King also congratulated the graduating class of 2021.
King gained national attention over his handling (along with chief health officer Dr. Heather Morrison) of the coronavirus, with minimal cases and zero deaths on the Island.
“You did it. Your high school experience has been like none other in history. You have encountered many challenges. Yet your drive, determination and patience have shined. You all should be proud of yourselves. Remember that we didn't get here alone,” King told the graduates.
He asked students to remember those that helped along the way.
“Remember to give them a pat on the back. They have been with you every step of the way, are proud of your accomplishments and proud of you with this monumental milestone," he added.
"As you move into the next chapter of your lives, remember never to stop growing. Never stop exploring. Never stop learning and always continue to challenge yourself.”