Moments of Moments of Pride and Pride and

AdvancementAdvancement

Sheldon BrownSheldon Brown

Corporate Security Corporate Security and Risk and Risk

Management Management Graduation DinnerGraduation Dinner

While at Algonquin College in the Corporate While at Algonquin College in the Corporate Security and Risk Management Program all the Security and Risk Management Program all the students were part of a co-op placement. For students were part of a co-op placement. For our graduation dinner we decided as a class to our graduation dinner we decided as a class to invite all of our Placement supervisors as they invite all of our Placement supervisors as they are industry professionals and we wanted to are industry professionals and we wanted to

thank them for their time. I was chosen by my thank them for their time. I was chosen by my class to give the speech thanking all of class to give the speech thanking all of

supervisors who attended. It was my job to supervisors who attended. It was my job to interact with each individual supervisor, learn interact with each individual supervisor, learn their names and positions in order to include their names and positions in order to include

them personally in my speech. However I had them personally in my speech. However I had never met any of these people before and had never met any of these people before and had

only 20 minutes to introduce myself and only 20 minutes to introduce myself and collect the information I needed.. I collect the information I needed.. I

successfully interacted with all of the successfully interacted with all of the supervisors and also used the time to network supervisors and also used the time to network and not only collect the information I needed and not only collect the information I needed but to answer their questions about myself in but to answer their questions about myself in

order to put myself out their for the future order to put myself out their for the future purpose of applications to these agencies. In purpose of applications to these agencies. In the end I presented a great speech and was the end I presented a great speech and was

able to remember the 25 supervisors that were able to remember the 25 supervisors that were present as well a their positions and agencies. present as well a their positions and agencies.

I was proud of myself for not only do what I I was proud of myself for not only do what I needed to in order to deliver my speech but needed to in order to deliver my speech but

taking it upon myself to network and create a taking it upon myself to network and create a positive name for myself.positive name for myself.

My first time in My first time in Europe Europe

I am unable to say the location but my I am unable to say the location but my mother works in a senior position and mother works in a senior position and travels all over the world for business. travels all over the world for business.

When I was 19 I was able to join her on e When I was 19 I was able to join her on e Business trip to London, England and Business trip to London, England and

Stockholm, Sweden. Not only was I excited Stockholm, Sweden. Not only was I excited to be on a new continent, and be able to to be on a new continent, and be able to

explore the culture that was now explore the culture that was now surrounding me but I was also excited to be surrounding me but I was also excited to be

able to meet my mother collogues and able to meet my mother collogues and have the chance to sit in on one of their have the chance to sit in on one of their Business dinners. Having been 19 I was Business dinners. Having been 19 I was

not yet attending Post Secondary Education not yet attending Post Secondary Education and was unaware of general business and was unaware of general business

practices. While in Stockholm I was indeed practices. While in Stockholm I was indeed able to be apart of one of the business able to be apart of one of the business dinners. We arrived at a very proper dinners. We arrived at a very proper

restaurant and as the dinner proceeded I restaurant and as the dinner proceeded I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the different thoroughly enjoyed hearing the different

aspects of the project at hand and the skills aspects of the project at hand and the skills that everyone acquired. I learned very that everyone acquired. I learned very

quickly how to conduct myself in this sort quickly how to conduct myself in this sort of business situation and how to answer of business situation and how to answer

accurately and concisely to the questions accurately and concisely to the questions that were being asked to me about my that were being asked to me about my future goals and aspirations. It was a future goals and aspirations. It was a

wonderful networking experience that I still wonderful networking experience that I still carry with me to this day and use it as an carry with me to this day and use it as an

example to myself of how to conduct example to myself of how to conduct myself in any business setting. Having myself in any business setting. Having

been through this experience I believe that been through this experience I believe that it gave me the drive to myself be a it gave me the drive to myself be a

legitimate part of one of these dinners. In legitimate part of one of these dinners. In my own field in my own industry.my own field in my own industry.

ASIS ASIS Conferences Conferences and Lecturesand Lectures

ASIS is an organization dedicated to ASIS is an organization dedicated to security professionals. While at security professionals. While at

Algonquin College me and my fellow Algonquin College me and my fellow classmates joined the ASIS organization classmates joined the ASIS organization Ottawa chapter and attended many of Ottawa chapter and attended many of the conference dinners that were help the conference dinners that were help at the Centurion Conference center in at the Centurion Conference center in

Ottawa. The meetings included a Ottawa. The meetings included a dinner as well as guest lecturers who dinner as well as guest lecturers who spoke on their specific specializations spoke on their specific specializations within th e security industry. From within th e security industry. From topics such as physical security to topics such as physical security to

representatives of agencies such as representatives of agencies such as CATSA. Besides me and my fellow CATSA. Besides me and my fellow

students the rest of the attendees were students the rest of the attendees were industry professionals from the Ottawa industry professionals from the Ottawa area. This gave me the opportunity to area. This gave me the opportunity to

meet many different industry meet many different industry professionals from all areas of Ottawa professionals from all areas of Ottawa

and the surrounding areas. The and the surrounding areas. The networking opportunities were endless networking opportunities were endless as well as the learning experiences I as well as the learning experiences I

was able to bring away from each was able to bring away from each meeting. The information I gained I was meeting. The information I gained I was able to easily transfer and apply to my able to easily transfer and apply to my education and the completion of my education and the completion of my projects. These meeting were also projects. These meeting were also

crucial in defining my desired section of crucial in defining my desired section of the security industry.the security industry.

Algonquin College Algonquin College GraduationGraduation

In 2008 I graduated From In 2008 I graduated From Algonquin College in the Algonquin College in the

corporate Security and Risk corporate Security and Risk Management program. After Management program. After being with the college for two being with the college for two years It was time for us to part years It was time for us to part

ways. I felt such a sense of ways. I felt such a sense of accomplishment and pride in accomplishment and pride in

myself that day when I stood on myself that day when I stood on the stage and accepted my the stage and accepted my

diploma. I had learned so many diploma. I had learned so many new skill sets and felt prepared new skill sets and felt prepared

to enter the workforce as an to enter the workforce as an innovative and creative fresh innovative and creative fresh

face. I had had so many positive face. I had had so many positive experiences that not only help experiences that not only help

me develop my knowledge but to me develop my knowledge but to develop my interpersonal skills, develop my interpersonal skills, learn new abilities and develop learn new abilities and develop strong work ethic as well as my strong work ethic as well as my ability to work in groups. I had ability to work in groups. I had grown up at Algonquin College grown up at Algonquin College and turned into the person I am and turned into the person I am

today.today.

In 20012 after being out of College for one year and working full time I felt that I needed change. So I began to explore the idea of coming back to school. I

researched programs and schools and came Across the Business operations program at Centennial College. After some thought I decided that based on the courses that

they were offering as well as the co-op placement that was part of the program it was time for me to leave Ottawa and turn over a new leaf. I decided to pick up my life and

move across the province in the residence at Centennial College. It may have been the best decision I have ever made. I was proud of myself for making decisions that would not only help advance me in the future but challenge me on a day to day basis and help me grow further as an individual. I have had many wonderful experiences

and some that were very challenging but I would not trade them in for anything. I am only in my second semester now of 9 and cannot wait to see were my life will lead

along the way.

A New ChapterA New Chapter