I received soccer scholarships in the U.S. after high school but decided to stay in Canada. I initially went to Western University to play but suffered a season-ending injury after the preseason. The following year, I played in Washington state with Bellingham United and competed against the Seattle Sounders 2 and Portland Timbers 2.

In 2017, I played in a semi-professional league in Ontario called League1 Ontario with the Sanjaxx Lions, where I competed against Toronto FC’s second and third teams, as well as other top teams in Ontario. The year after, I suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined me for a year. During COVID-19, I played with Westside FC in the VMSL Men’s Premier Division and also with MFA in the FVSL Premier League.

I am currently completing my master’s degree at the University of New Brunswick and playing for the UNB Reds men’s soccer team. The 2024 soccer season was a highlight for me; we competed against the No. 1-seed UBC Thunderbirds in the U SPORTS quarter-final match at the National Championships. Only eight teams qualify for nationals, with the top two from each province advancing. Although we lost to UBC, we were the only team to score against them during the tournament.

Mr. Graham Linn was my most influential teacher. He was someone I looked up to. During tough times, he was very supportive, and I always valued his guidance. When I was unsure about where to go for university, he helped me make a decision.

Attending Shawnigan gave me a competitive edge. Everyone was involved in sports, and the structured routine emphasized a well-rounded approach, incorporating academics, athletics, and fine arts. Shawnigan prepares young men and women to take on the world.

I hope Shawnigan continues to shape the leaders of tomorrow and attracts aspiring entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and artists, whatever their passion may be.

I also believe Shawnigan could continue investing in other areas beyond its current strengths. For instance, how can we elevate soccer? Can we bring in more coaches, improve facilities, or enhance training programs? Creating a stronger player pathway to university or the professional level would be beneficial.

The same applies to other programs, such as entrepreneurship. Imagine an incubator program or a grant for Grade 12 students with startup ideas. Students could pitch their business concepts, and the top three could receive funding through an alumni-sponsored grant to bring their ideas to life.

The best advice I received was from Mr. Linn, though he never said it directly. Through my interactions with him, I learned: Control what you can and let go of what you can’t. Focus your energy on things within your power instead of worrying about what’s beyond your control.

Another valuable lesson I’ve learned is: The only way to fail is to quit. In both business and sports, there were times when I wanted to give up. In 2018, I suffered a severe knee injury just before my university graduation. I felt unmotivated, wasn’t taking care of myself, and went through one of the toughest times in my life. I had to undergo knee surgery while living alone in Ontario, with my family in Vancouver. I thought about quitting sports altogether.

Something intrinsic. I believed that better days would come.

Stay the course. What you’re doing now won’t define your entire career. If you fail a university course, it won’t ruin your life. There will always be roadblocks – it’s about how you overcome them.

If I could give advice to my younger self at 17 or 18, I’d emphasize leveraging your network. Back in 2014, people weren’t using the internet as much for networking. Now, it’s easier than ever to reach out to alumni, and most would be happy to jump on a call and offer advice. Take the initiative to connect with peers and professionals – whether in business, your career, or sports, such as university or professional athletes.

Yes, Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s in his 40s and continues to perform at the highest level, proving that relentless dedication leads to greatness. At 18, he declared he would become the best player in the world. People laughed at him, but he stayed committed.

A mentor once told me: To stay in business is to be in business. This ties back to staying the course. There will always be distractions in business and sports. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in – if your business is profitable and improves people’s lives, that’s what counts. Ronaldo succeeded because he never strayed from his goal. Many of his peers have retired, yet he continues to compete at the top level.

My message to students and young alumni is: Don't be afraid to reach out and tap into the alumni network. When I was in Grade 12, I didn’t have that experience, but in my first year of university, Shawnigan alumni reached out to me, and it made a difference.

The Advancement & Community Engagement team thanks Yonden for sharing his post-Shawnigan journey. Interested in telling your story? Reach out to alumni@shawnigan.ca and a team member will be in touch.