Meet the Valedictorians: Giuliana Guarna

If you had a superpower, what would it be? Who inspires you, and why? Giuliana Guarna, valedictorian at this morning’s convocation for the Faculty of Science, answers these and other pressing questions in our Daily News Q&A:

Your home town: I recently moved to Oakville, Ontario, but spent my childhood split between Bolton, Ontario and Woodbridge, Ontario.

Your degree & subject area: Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a minor in Music and Music Cognition.

Where are you headed after convocation?

I’ve just come back from a two-and-a-half week trip around Europe, and I’m now returning to my amazing job as the MSU Vice-President Administration.

Your best memory of Mac?

Being at 1280 during the most recent Vanier Cup final and feeling all the electric energy, excitement, and sheer support and love of the McMaster community in one room.

The best advice anyone ever gave you?

Don’t ever be afraid to go after something. The worst that happens is that you are exactly where you are now.

Who inspires you, and why?

This is a hard one. I don’t think I can pinpoint any one person. I’d say that different people inspire me in different instances and different times. I have a really great support system composed of my friends and family, and each of them contributes something to my life that inspires me in one way or another.

What’s your biggest accomplishment so far?

Definitely surviving a six-and-a-half-hour election to become the MSU Vice-President Administration – and of course completing my undergraduate degree.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

I think it would be to time travel – but not to correct mistakes or stop things from happening. I’d just want to be able to learn about how things were done in the past, especially after travelling through Europe and being in complete awe seeing all the breathtaking architecture. Did you know the Colosseum was built in nine years? That fact blew my mind, because I don’t think a structure like that could be built at the present time in nine years.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned (so far)?

It’s directly related to the best advice I’ve ever gotten. You’re never going to be able to accomplish something new or scary unless you try. Generally, the hardest part of starting anything new is getting past that initial sense of worry or fear. Ultimately, in the worst-case scenario, you’re exactly where you are now. But if it works out, you’ve only grown for the better.

What do you think the future holds for higher education?

I think we’ll continue to see students value the quality of teaching and learning, as well as the ability to supplement their learning through experiential education and more self-directed learning. Students are curious and willing to learn, but they want to be creative and they want to contribute to their unique educational journey.

While at Mac, did you receive donor-funded financial assistance (e.g., a scholarship, award and/or bursary)? Any thoughts on the importance of giving back to one’s alma mater to support future generations?

I received funding all four years at McMaster through the Bursary application. I hope that someday, should I find myself in a financially capable position, I could provide some funding to help students make their way through their undergraduate degree with less of a financial strain.