“It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” The adage perfectly describes Kat Lin Ji’s advice to current students.
Kat, who graduated from the University of Toronto with a double major in Economics and Actuarial Sciences in 2016 has been volunteering as an alumni mentor since just after her own commencement ceremony. While she didn’t start training as a marathoner until 2022, Kat’s approach to her career development, her sport, and to her community involvement are all shaped by her preference for a life that combines equal measures of discipline and adventure.
“They need to be they financially responsible and also, I suggest they keep to a disciplined living schedule where they do not abuse food, or abuse alcohol,” Kat explained during a recent interview. “Maybe it’s my personality, but I’d like to live a very disciplined life and I highly recommend it. It will help students to find a similar group of people.”
Stay flexible
Many of the students Kat mentors are living through the same experiences she had as a foreign student from China. Staying flexible and being open to fate are two qualities she emphasizes in every exchange.
“Students usually like to hear direct guidance about how to find a job, how to achieve a promotion and practical advice like that,” she said. “When I was a student, I also wanted that information! But now, I also pass along my experience of failure so that they will accept that the side of their own lives. Life is full of ups and downs, and we have to live with ourselves as we reconcile them.”
The need to stay flexible and go with the flow was clear to Kat as soon as she started looking for a job.
“At the time, I was trying to get into an insurance company to become an actuary,” Kat recalled. “But things didn’t go as planned because it’s a very competitive field and I wasn’t one of the best. So, I decided to just let it go and see what fate would bring me.”
What followed was a position as an administrator in the insurance industry followed by stints in the technology sector doing analysis and project management with two of Canada’s big five banks. Kat earned her Master of Management and Analytics while establishing her career.
Expect transformation
And then, last year one of life’s down turns appeared in the form of a layoff. It was not, though, an opportunity for Kat to feel sorry for herself. A severance package from the bank, combined with a marathon training, helped her keep worry at bay.
“I’m a totally different person than I was two years ago,” Kat said. “I’m hitting the two-year anniversary of starting training in May, so I’m going to run another two marathons over the summer to celebrate!”
The career break has helped Kat to prevent burn out through travel and training. Both have helped her to think about where she wants her career to take her next.
“While I am running, I have innovative ideas and, more importantly, it has given me a new way of building relationships, and getting to know people in the city,” she explained. “When you do exercise, you feel the happiness physically. That’s something I tell students too.”
The rewards of exercise offer consistency when life is unpredictable. It’s another reason why Kat advises the students she mentors to stay healthy both physically and mentally.
“They shouldn’t get stressed out and blame themselves when they can’t find a part time job on campus,” she said. “The job market is very difficult right now. Even finding a job as a cashier is difficult.”
Kat draws on her own background in Economics to understand both what the students she mentors are facing and where she’ll seek her own next opportunities.
“I know what tools to use to help me to understand the need of the market, the demands of the market, and it guides me to start reading more resources to get more information,” said Kat. “A background in Economics assures that I do my resource research thoroughly. It is a very good foundation for future knowledge building.”
Build your support team
As she looks for a new role, Kat knows her support team is in place, cheering her on from the sidelines. She credits her parents and grandparents for encouraging her to follow her own path.
“Because they weren’t focused on one area, they didn’t give me a requirement to follow in their footsteps,” she remembered. “They actually gave me the freedom to explore different areas, to see more, and to play more freely.”
Are you an alumni interested in helping current students find their way? Learn more about volunteering with the University of Toronto’s mentor a student programs.
Return to the Department of Economics website.
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