UNDERGRADUATE
Tabitha Dolar—General Contractors Association of Toronto Award
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Tabitha Dolar—General Contractors Association of Toronto Award
About the Award
For overall excellence and a demonstrated interest in project management is presented to fourth year students.
As an engaged and motivated Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) fourth-year student in the Architectural Science program, I have been immersed into my studies of design and problem-solving. Having a strong passion for architecture and overseeing the completion of various projects, I decided to fuel this by concentrating in the Project Management stream.
During my four years at TMU, with an additional year in the Co-operative Education Internship program, I have had to adapt to online learning due to COVID-19. With that said, my academic and professional career has been anything but linear.While design is a much stronger process when done collaborative and hands-on, learning online meant having to find ways to fulfill that gap. I have joined multiple design competitions with classmates under the guidance of professors, and also joined the program’s Union as a third year class representative. With these initiatives, I found that I thrive when having to adapt to different experiences.
Through challenging situations, knowledge building, and memorable experiences, I am proud to look back and see strong passion, growth and development, and increasing confidence both in myself and my work as a professional. As an individual who initially believed that the sole joy of architecture was design and drawings, it was not until I switched to a Project Management co-op role that I discovered greater meaning and interest in the coordination and administrative side of projects.
I gained valuable experience as a Project Manager Trainee during my internship after switching from my initial co-op experience in an architecture firm. Though it was a new role with unfamiliar responsibilities, I felt the need to challenge myself to explore my options within this versatile Architectural Science program.
This decision has changed my path for the better as I have found a keen interest in communication, leadership, and organization. Having specifically worked on healthcare-related projects for one year, I have taken on various roles while maintaining communication with stakeholders, contractors, consultants, and users. I had the chance to work alongside different professionals and gain the hands-on experience that was missed during online learning. Working on multiple projects has allowed me to apply my skills and knowledge learned during the first three years at TMU.
I witnessed firsthand the complexities, challenges, and appropriate resolutions of construction management, allowing me to advance my problem-solving skills as I navigate through various projects in the future. The opportunity to shadow and assist experienced Project Managers helped me to acquire useful technical, social, and other intangible skills.
Ultimately, jumping into the Project Management stream will help solidify my desire for learning and align with my future goals. From an early fascination with design to my later concentration in Project Management, I have embraced every opportunity for growth and learning. Through these experiences, I have not only honed my technical skills but also discovered a passion for communication, leadership, and organization within project coordination. This shift focus has opened up new avenues of professional development and expanded my capability to problem-solve in any situation.
Looking ahead, there is still more that I can learn from this program and concentration.
I am confident that my knowledge so far learned and experiences will serve as a strong foundation for my future endeavours, allowing me to approach projects with creativity, adaptability and enthusiasm. I hope to achieve a career where my success is recognized by these three attributes.
For overall excellence and a demonstrated interest in project management is presented to fourth year students.
As an engaged and motivated Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) fourth-year student in the Architectural Science program, I have been immersed into my studies of design and problem-solving. Having a strong passion for architecture and overseeing the completion of various projects, I decided to fuel this by concentrating in the Project Management stream.
During my four years at TMU, with an additional year in the Co-operative Education Internship program, I have had to adapt to online learning due to COVID-19. With that said, my academic and professional career has been anything but linear.While design is a much stronger process when done collaborative and hands-on, learning online meant having to find ways to fulfill that gap. I have joined multiple design competitions with classmates under the guidance of professors, and also joined the program’s Union as a third year class representative. With these initiatives, I found that I thrive when having to adapt to different experiences.
Through challenging situations, knowledge building, and memorable experiences, I am proud to look back and see strong passion, growth and development, and increasing confidence both in myself and my work as a professional. As an individual who initially believed that the sole joy of architecture was design and drawings, it was not until I switched to a Project Management co-op role that I discovered greater meaning and interest in the coordination and administrative side of projects.
I gained valuable experience as a Project Manager Trainee during my internship after switching from my initial co-op experience in an architecture firm. Though it was a new role with unfamiliar responsibilities, I felt the need to challenge myself to explore my options within this versatile Architectural Science program.
This decision has changed my path for the better as I have found a keen interest in communication, leadership, and organization. Having specifically worked on healthcare-related projects for one year, I have taken on various roles while maintaining communication with stakeholders, contractors, consultants, and users. I had the chance to work alongside different professionals and gain the hands-on experience that was missed during online learning. Working on multiple projects has allowed me to apply my skills and knowledge learned during the first three years at TMU.
I witnessed firsthand the complexities, challenges, and appropriate resolutions of construction management, allowing me to advance my problem-solving skills as I navigate through various projects in the future. The opportunity to shadow and assist experienced Project Managers helped me to acquire useful technical, social, and other intangible skills.
Ultimately, jumping into the Project Management stream will help solidify my desire for learning and align with my future goals. From an early fascination with design to my later concentration in Project Management, I have embraced every opportunity for growth and learning. Through these experiences, I have not only honed my technical skills but also discovered a passion for communication, leadership, and organization within project coordination. This shift focus has opened up new avenues of professional development and expanded my capability to problem-solve in any situation.
Looking ahead, there is still more that I can learn from this program and concentration.
I am confident that my knowledge so far learned and experiences will serve as a strong foundation for my future endeavours, allowing me to approach projects with creativity, adaptability and enthusiasm. I hope to achieve a career where my success is recognized by these three attributes.
