Reflecting with Ted Rogers School’s Gold Medal Winner

The Ryerson Gold Medal is the university's highest award, presented to students with outstanding academic achievement combined with extraordinary contributions to the life of the university, their profession or their community. We spoke to this year’s winner, Grejdi Meta (Business Management - Economic and Management Science Co-op), about what this award means to him. 

Grejdi participated in the Economics Co-op Program, where he gained 16 months of real-life experience. He also worked as a Residence Advisor and an International Peer Ambassador, in addition to being part of the Economics Association and the Ted Rogers Students’ Society.

Here is what he had to say about achieving this honour. 

1. What does receiving the gold medal mean to you?

This award is individual, but the work it took to get here has been nothing but collaborative. I owe a lot of my success to the peers, colleagues and friends I’ve learned from in the last five years. I am honoured to have been surrounded by motivated individuals who had the best interest of everyone, myself included, at heart. Shared knowledge is what guided me on the right path forward, and I want to thank everyone who has enriched my university experience with their diverse backgrounds, critical thoughts and constructive feedback. 

The gold medal represents the multitude of experiences that contributed to my growth. The award itself enforces my belief that stepping out of your comfort zone is what sets you aside, and that is what I strived to do during my undergraduate journey at Toronto Metropolitan University.

2. What advice would you give students entering their first year?

Be yourself, do what makes you uncomfortable (professionally), and prioritize. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to try new experiences, meet people from different cultures and share your honest thoughts in conversations. Peers, professors and colleagues will appreciate you for who you are and will remember you stepping up to go above and beyond. 

At the same time, learn how to prioritize academics, social time and your mental well-being. This skill comes with time, but once you acquire it,you will find the perfect balance between working hard and finding time to analyze your thoughts and set goals.

3. Do you have any favourite classes/teachers, and what made them stand out?

Although I majored in Economics, my most memorable class is my Intro to Financial Accounting with Professor Else Grech. The course simplified real-life business examples in a textbook written by Professor Grech and taught concepts through practical experience. Aside from learning accounting techniques, this class taught me how to think critically and solve problems through building meaningful relationships. The lessons learned in Introductory Accounting set the foundations for my passion for logic and numbers while helping me identify my strengths.

4. How did TMU (Ryerson) support you during your time here?

I was honoured to participate in the Economics Co-op Program, gaining 16 months of real-life experience across two pension investment funds and applying it to my studies. In addition, my on-campus job experiences as a Residence Advisor and an International Peer Ambassador enabled me to support incoming and graduate students in their university journey, academically and interpersonally. I was grateful to be a part of amazing student organizations such as the Economics Association and the Ted Rogers Students’ Society – experiences that helped with my growth while contributing to an active social life.

However, the TMU community best supported me by teaching values such as welcomeness, inclusivity and open-mindedness. As an international student, I felt appreciated for who I was and didn’t necessarily have to “fit in” in order to succeed. Thank you to all staff, faculty and the community who work hard to build such a culture.

5. What has been your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment was managing a balanced social life, academic focus and professional development. As an undergraduate student, it is important to evaluate what experiences contribute to your growth – and for everyone, they are different. I was able to prioritize academics while planning ahead for social events or extracurricular involvement opportunities. Contrary to popular belief, I learned that keeping myself busy in many ways, such as work, student organizations or volunteering, kept me motivated and on-track to reach my academic and professional goals.

6. What are your future plans?

My career will kick off at CPP Investments as a Rotational Analyst in the Finance, Analytics and Risk department. The organization is a global management firm that invests the assets of the Canada Pension Plan to earn the best possible investment return to create retirement security for Canadians. I aspire to advance professionally in the investments field by creating value in sustainable business opportunities. 

I will continue my volunteering endeavors in local organizations while maintaining strong ties to the Toronto Met community. I am most excited to give back to student organizations by directly helping students explore their career paths and create connections in the industry. As a proud TMU alumnus, I look forward to creating relationships with upcoming student leaders and staying in touch with folks in my graduating class.