Environment
Awards, Honours and Rankings
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Paramvir Singh.You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to work hard at something you love.

That’s the secret behind Paramvir Singh’s success. The new graduate earned his Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) this June and graduated at the top of his class receiving the Alumni Gold Medal for outstanding academic achievement in the Faculty of Environment as well as the Departmental Award for distinguished academic achievement in Geomatics.

“If someone would have told me I would be winning these awards four years ago, I would have probably laughed it off,” he said. “I was not a perfect student. I didn’t make timetables. I loved sleeping in and leaving things to the last minute. But, I am someone who works hard. I push and grind for what I love.”

From the beginning, Paramvir was interested in pursuing Geomatics in the Faculty of Environment. And, after his first lecture with Dr. Peter Johnson, it was confirmed. This field of study was the path for him.

“Dr. Johnson is a cool professor and he helped me to really start liking GIS,” he said. “From week one I had a strong gut feeling that I made the right choice.”

Sam, Paramvir and Peter Johnson.

Samas, Paramvir and Dr. Peter Johnson. 

Paramvir took more courses and accepted co-op jobs with the Cities of Brantford and Hamilton, Dana Porter Library and even the Weather Network, all in an effort to narrow down what his niche was. Another course, GEOG 459 on renewable energy and sustainable development, helped him to discover how he could apply GIS skills to renewable energy and sustainable development, and everything clicked into place.
 
“We need to transition to renewable energy, like in the aviation sector. That is one area where I think I would like to explore. Or, getting involved with location allocation for new development projects because we must be smart about how land is used. These are places where I see myself being the most useful and the most excited.”
 
Moving forward, he has cast his future options far and wide – applying for jobs in the field and master’s programs in GIS. As he waits to hear back and decide which move to pursue, Paramvir is optimistic about his future and he adamantly shares how Waterloo was a key ingredient to helping him arrive at this moment. He believes it all started with first-year orientation.
 
“It was the beginning of long-lasting friendships, valuable connections, and I absorbed an incredible amount of knowledge in just one week.” The energy, camaraderie, and excitement experienced remains a significant highlight for him, a foundational experience that created a sense of belonging that would be followed by a colourful collection of memories that he quickly and fondly rattles off.
 
“From hanging out at Environment Society Coffee Lounge to working at the Bike Centre or saying hi to the custodians as they started their work in EV3 near my favorite study spot, I am going to miss the community,” he said. “During the challenging times of COVID-19, these friendships became a lifeline, providing much-needed emotional support and a listening ear. I have so much gratitude for my classmates and friends who stuck by my side and helped me navigate the uncertainties of that time and university life in general.”
 

Family photo with Paramvir, his brother, mother and father.

Paramvir with his family.

While his friends provided emotional support, Paramvir credits his drive and work ethic to his family. “My brother and mother are a constant source of inspiration for me. As for my dad, he always said if you want to be at the top, you put in the hard work that gets you there. That’s a big motivator for me to work hard. I put in all those hours, did the best I could – without expectation. That’s the key to having these awards be a really amazing surprise.”

 

Paramvir convocated on Tuesday, June 13 with over 400 of his peers who also had their achievements celebrated.

“We should all be proud of graduating from such a prestigious university. It’s an honour on its own,” he said. “Going forward, we all have an equal chance of making a difference. Just remember - once you start doing what you love, you don’t realize that you’re working so hard and that is how you will find your version of success.”

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Environment
Awards, Honours and Rankings

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