Convocation profile: From the farm to the boardroom

Tyler Hall knew exactly what he was looking for in a university. Originally from a small farming town north of Toronto, he quickly realized Dalhousie University fit the bill when he enrolled in 2008.

“The great thing about Halifax I discovered is that it’s a great city with a fantastic urban centre but still has the quiet streets and close proximity to the ocean,” says Mr. Hall. “I was so excited to start my journey at Dal!”

But like most journeys, it came with its own set of surprises.

“Coming into Dal I was dead set on becoming an architect,” he explains. “But as the year went on, I realized that architecture wasn’t for me. 
Being so sure of one path and then having it all come falling down was really tough.”

Fortunately, Mr. Hall had tremendous support from family, friends and his academic advisor and mentor Margie Muise, who all eventually led him to enrol in the Bachelor of Management program.

“I come from a long line of farmers and when I decided to pursue higher education rather than take over the family business, my parents backed me up the whole way. I’m so grateful to them.”

By pursuing his degree in management, he combined his interest in business with fun electives like theatre and geology. During his time at Dal, he was also the vice-president and teaching instructor of Dal Dance and volunteered with Dal Theatre and Zuppa Theatre as well.

Looking back, Mr. Hall sums up his time at Dal as an enriched adventure full of tough lessons, unforgettable experiences and amazing people.

Mr. Hall is now working full-time for Dalhousie as an assistant registrar where he gets to travel all over Canada and share his experiences with potential students. Further down the road, he hopes to enrol in a graduate program.