A student asked me, “Did you make any bad mistakes in your career? Do you have any regrets?”

I replied, “We learn from mistakes, but regretting them is wasted energy.”

That exchange came during a recent visit to Glenview Park Secondary School in Cambridge, Ont., where I spoke with students as part of a series of career days organized by the Business & Education Partnership of Waterloo Region (BEPWR). Along with two other volunteers, I shared my career journey and answered questions from students who are beginning to think about what their own futures might look like.

We started the day with a Grade 9 class, each taking about 10 minutes to outline our career paths before opening the floor to questions. Later, we broke into smaller groups to speak with Grade 10 students, six to eight at a time, allowing for more personal and candid conversations. While the invitation was not meant to promote any specific industry, telling a story rooted entirely in transportation tends to do just that. When you’ve spent your entire working life in one sector — starting at 18 years old — the industry becomes part of the narrative.

Long-term career option

In total, I interacted with just under 40 students. Not all were engaged, and that’s to be expected. But many were curious, thoughtful and genuinely interested. Several were surprised to learn how many different roles exist within the transportation industry and that it is the second-largest employer in the country, behind only hospitality. For many, trucking and transportation had never been presented as a viable, long-term career option.

Some of the most meaningful questions had little to do with transportation. The question about mistakes and regrets sparked one of the most memorable conversations of the day. After I said I had made plenty of mistakes but had no regrets, the student pressed further, asking how that could be possible. I explained that mistakes are how we learn. With hindsight, would I make different decisions? Absolutely. But every misstep shaped the path that brought me to where I am today — and I’m happy with where that path led. Dwelling on regret doesn’t change the past; learning from it shapes the future.

Don’t hesitate to volunteer

Over the past six years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking to students at schools across Waterloo Region, from Grades 7 through 12. My involvement with BEPWR began thanks to Shelley Walker of the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada, who knew the organization was looking for more volunteers and encouraged me to get involved. I didn’t hesitate.

Earlier in my career, I had approached my local high school with the idea of speaking to students about transportation careers and was politely told to leave pamphlets and wait for a call that never came.

Knowing schools were now actively welcoming speakers was refreshing and encouraging.

I’ve lost count of how many students I’ve spoken to over the years. Some sessions were broad career talks; others focused specifically on transportation. I don’t remember every classroom, but I remember the conversations. One stands out from a Grade 9 presentation in Waterloo three years ago.

I told those students that it’s OK not to know what you want to do with your life. Try different things. If something doesn’t fit, move on. You don’t need a lifelong plan at 14 years old. I shared my own path — how I started without a clear direction, yet spent more than three decades in the same industry, moving through roles as a driver, trainer, safety and compliance manager, and eventually into a leadership role with a trucking association.

Moments that matter

After the presentation, one student asked to speak with me privately. He explained that he struggled academically and believed that without success in college or university, he had no future. He thanked me for sharing my story and said it gave him hope — hope that he could build a successful career in transportation despite not fitting the traditional academic mold.

Moments like that are why these talks matter. Students are the next generation of our workforce, our industry and our communities. They need honest conversations, real stories and reassurance that there are many paths to success. If you have the opportunity to speak to students about your career or industry, take it.

Giving back doesn’t just help shape the future. It reminds us why our own journeys mattered in the first place.