Ten years ago, many of my friends and I finished our final exams, ready to take on the world. Before diving into offices, commutes and afterwork drinks with people we didn’t know, we celebrated with a grad trip to Cuba.
Fast forward a decade, most of us now live in Toronto, and we still see each other often. I’d been tossing around the idea of a ten-year grad trip for years. I knew we had to celebrate—graduating ten years ago is a milestone—but staying friends for this long is something special.
Only three of us from the original Cuba trip made it to Mexico, but most had known each other since first year. The crew included three Arts, one Math, one Environment, one AHS and six Engineering grads, as well as two close friends. We stayed in Riviera Maya, Mexico, spending most of our time at the beach or pool reading, sipping frozen drinks and catching up.
While there’s no “next” reunion on the books, I’m eager to make it a tradition. Even though we’ve traveled the world—Europe, Asia, Oceania, South America—it was the first time in Mexico for many of us.
Now, as a teacher myself, and as UW Arts celebrates its 65th anniversary, I reflect on what I often tell my students: the person you meet in first year might one day land you a job—or at the very least, bring you a margarita by the pool in Mexico.
Victoria Stacey (top row, first on left) and friends, 2015.
Victoria (bottom row, second from right) and friends, 2025.