Message from the Head
Congratulations to our new graduates! In today’s commencement ceremony, we celebrate eighty-two new BAs with a Philosophy honours, major or joint major, twenty-three new BAs with a Philosophy minor, two new Philosophy MAs, and three new Philosophy PhDs.
Congratulations to all of these students for completing their degrees! I am sorry not to be able to participate in today’s graduation ceremony, but I hope to see some of you at the departmental reception at 12:30 in Buchanan D324. I also offer my best wishes to those who are unable to attend.
You will move on to a wide variety of careers, programs and projects. We hope that you will draw on the skills that you have learned from your studies in philosophy: complex reasoning, critical analysis, imagination, and careful reading and writing. These skills will always remain important, even in a world of rapid change. The Philosophy Department takes pride in the roles that our teaching plays in the lives of our alumni, and we’re excited to see what our newest class of graduates has in store for the world. We encourage you to keep in touch – you will always be welcome in the department!
Included below is a list of some of our graduating students, along with brief messages they’ve sent in.
Once again: on behalf of the department, very best wishes and warmest congratulations!
Paul Bartha
UBC Philosophy Department Head
Messages from the Graduating Students:
“I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at UBC. Studying Philosophy gave me the opportunity to think about the most important questions, questions I've been thinking about since I was a teenager. I've also had the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with students and faculty.”
“Can't overstate how meaningful my time at UBC has been. Forever grateful to all of those who were a part of it. Thank you!”
“The more I look back at it, the more I think I had a wonderful time at UBC. I'm extremely glad that I ended up doing my PhD there. I found a rare combination of great guidance for my research and good friends. Hope I will be able to come back at some point to walk around campus with nostalgia.”
“Tables turn, bridges burn, you live and learn. UBC changed my life. To my family and friends—I wouldn't be here without you. Huge thanks to my profs for the guidance. I’m walking away with the best memories; the laughs, meltdowns, and every moment in between shaped who I am today. Proud to graduate!”
“UBC Philosophy taught me how to think. I thank my instructors, my peers, and most of all the many books that will continue to teach me for the rest of my life.”
“There's no use to having intelligence if you don't apply it. Apply your intelligence.”
“I really love the philosophy department at UBC, and I think many people have spent a significant part of their lives here as well. I did not choose to study philosophy simply because I loved philosophy itself, but because I wanted to understand who I am.”
“Catch me on famousbirthdays.com!”
“Graduation feels both exciting and terrifying, especially in an uncertain world. And after years of studying, collaboratively asking questions about what we don't know, I believe we can and will find our way forward in this new unknown together.”
“The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day … That is being educated, and understanding how to think. - David Foster Wallace”
