Rory Norris: The Multifacet of Utilizing Unrealized Spaces
Rory Norris is a third-year student enrolled in the Biotechnology and Chartered Professional Accounting (CPA) program here at Waterloo. Rory has spent a considerable amount of time during his undergraduate experience immersing himself in student government and nurturing his multidisciplinary passions for Biotechnology principles and accounting practices.
Options and opportunities
When prompted by what led to Rory’s choice of a unique combination like the Biotech/CPA program, he describes it as an intersection of two non-negotiables for him. His curiosity in the academic aspect of studying biotechnology and interest in understanding the applications of accounting principles led to his matriculation into the program.
“It is difficult to say if I’d want my career to go in one of those two directions or not, ideally, I would love to continue working in a setting where both principles are at play.”
Rory describes much of his degree as an opportunity to nurture his varied interests and cultivate as many experiences as possible rather than a time to narrow his prospects; an outlook that led to his entry into student government.
Picking Biotech/CPA was kind of like a piece of insurance, but also curiosity. I liked both biology and accounting in high school, and I thought what if there’s a program that lets me explore both and not just one?
Rory at a Waterloo Warrior hockey game
Rory posing and smiling
Student Government: A Revisited Chapter
Prior to entering university, Rory had been active in his high school student government with barriers of involvement due to COVID-19. However, in winter of 2023 a peer at Waterloo suggested that Rory get involved with the student government again which led to a professional reunion of sorts.
Rory served as President and Chair of the Board at the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) from May 2023 to April 2024 during which he had the opportunity to work on various projects like revitalizing unused student spaces in the Student Life Center (SLC), reopening closed spaces for student usage and the rollout of several new food vendors on campus.
When asked about the complexities of this position, Rory says, “It’s a very different kind of leadership. You’re not just organizing events, you’re navigating bureaucracy that is inherent in large institutions, managing a team, and working with university administrators and trying to make an impact as well.”
Rory credits his accounting studies with giving him a deeper appreciation for WUSA’s audit processes, financial planning, and risk management strategies.
Ongoing Leadership
Despite the end of his contract, Rory still holds a position with WUSA where he gets to work on student-facing projects and continues to embody leadership through his role as a Residence Life Don with Campus Housing. He describes leadership as a skill that is difficult to teach but only honed with continued application.
When asked about the motivation behind his continued drive Rory describes it in terms of momentum, “It’s like a flywheel, the more you do, the more you want to do. But there’s a fine line between staying engaged and burning out. You’ve got to leave room to sit around and do nothing sometimes, too.”
Appreciating Accounting and Mapping Next Steps
Beyond his experience with WUSA, Rory worked as a Junior Accountant at PTMG LLP, a small private accounting firm, where he had the opportunity to work directly on accounting elements like Notice to Reader statements, T3’s and T5’s. He explains that due to the smaller nature of the organization he had the opportunity to engage directly with the intricacies of the work processes.
As Rory ponders possible opportunities following graduation, he emphasized the importance of growth in his life and expressed the desire to explore unexpected professional realms to fuel that pursuit.
To Rory the most valuable aspects of learning through work and academics have been discovering his purpose in communities, exploring variety and tackling challenges.
Rory in an online meeting with Mike Morrice (MP)