Not everyone finds their perfect post-secondary fit on their first try. Luckily for Prince Khan, the second time was the charm.
Khan originally graduated from a three-year college program in business, but he felt uncomfortable amid the sprawling class sizes. He wanted an opportunity to establish a one-on-one relationship with his professors and instructors, and he wanted an environment where it was easy and encouraged for students to get involved.
He found that and more at the University of Guelph-Humber, and since graduating, he’s contributed his time diligently to ensure other students have just as positive an experience here.
“I gained a lot at UofGH in part because of the size of the school,” Khan said. “I found the classroom sizes perfect and the instructors were very, very helpful. You became a close-knit community. You had students you became closer friends with who would motivate you to become successful. And that’s what I loved about university overall.”
Now, Khan works as a Business Associate in the department of Economic Development & Culture for the City of Brampton. He actually interviewed for a position with the municipality just before taking his final exam at UofGH.
Since graduating, he hasn’t forgotten about UofGH. He recently won the Distinguished Alumnus Award at the 2017 Alumni Reunion, and it’s no surprise.
Khan also devoted himself to campus life with admirable enthusiasm while he was a student here. He was part of the Guelph-Humber Advertising and Marketing Association, the Guelph-Humber Business Council, the Guelph-Humber Entrepreneurs Society, and the DECA-UGH Executive Team, which he calls “one of the big highlights” of his time here.
Perhaps that’s why he’s so passionate about continuing UofGH’s case competition success. He estimates that he dedicates roughly 50 hours per year of his spare time to mentoring UofGH students and helping them to prepare for competitions.
“I’ve always seen myself as a mentor and a teacher,” he said. “It gives me a great feeling to give back to the students. To me, it’s all about giving back to Guelph-Humber because I feel like there’s a lot of potential in the school and in the students. I want to bridge that gap and come in and say: ‘You can be successful too.’”
This past year, the University of Guelph-Humber set a school record with 17 first place finishes at case competitions and 30 total Top 3 placements.
For Khan, he can look at a result like that and take pride.
“It honestly feels great. I’m seeing the growth in these individuals,” he said. “It makes me feel like, hey, giving back is a joy. It’s something I really enjoy doing.”
