Below, Meghan shares about her experience in working with the Navigator, how NCC helped prepare her for her future, and what she has been up to since graduation!

What brought you to NCC?
“My parents saw when I was younger that I had a lot more interest in academics than when they were students, and wanted to give me the best opportunities to learn. They appreciated the core values being taught at NCC as well as the international worldview and small class sizes. NCC also offered not only great academic standings but also a great arts department as well as a wide range of sports and club opportunities.”

What have you been up to since graduating from NCC?
“After graduating from NCC in 2016, I went off to Sheridan College and studied Illustration. In school I began specializing in narrative work as well as visual development, with a side interest in graphic design and typography. After graduating in 2021, I took a year off to travel across Canada and the States in a van with my sister.

Now that I’m back home I’ve begun my illustration career collaborating on projects with businesses and solo entrepreneurs, and recently just signed on to create some children’s books with a publisher!”

How did NCC help prepare you for post-secondary school?
“Specifically in my art-focused post-secondary experience, everything I learned with Mrs. Blue throughout my time in her art classes helped prepare me and excel in my degree as I was already very familiar with the creative process, and how to make strong visual projects with that formula. NCC also definitely helped me excel in all my academic curriculum materials as I was the go-to person for essay and citation help in college, and in my interpersonal relationships with the val- ues I was taught.”

What was it like to come full circle and be hired by NCC to work on the school’s mascot, The Navigator?
“Getting to work with NCC on the mascot has been a really fun and great opportunity, and truly feels full circle as I get to implement and use skills that I learned in high school in my professional work. It feels like I’m now really in the professional world to be hired and not a student anymore!”

Since graduating NCC, what have you learned?
“I think some of the biggest lessons I have learned don’t come from academic environments, and are experienced through life. One of the most important lessons that I have learned is that there is no rush or an expiry date for achieving your goals, and success will look different for everyone. We’re all on very different life paths with unique dreams and goals, and you can’t compare your progress to anyone.”

What was your vision for the updated Navigator? How did you put your own spin on it?
“My vision for the updated navigator was to freshen and re- vive the gator with a modern colour palette as well as a more friendly and approachable expression. I can’t help but give my work a lot of playful personality and energy so I had a lot of fun coming up with the additional poses and expressions for him, giving him a little extra pizazz.”

What advice would you like to give to the graduating Class of 2023?
“You’re at a very special stage in life where there can be a lot of daunting decisions and paths you can follow. Enjoy the time you have right now with all the opportunities laid out to you, and trust the process. Follow your passions and dreams and don’t underestimate yourself, you’re capable of so much more than you think you are. Time flies after graduation, enjoy every second of it!!”

To see more of Meghan's work, view the full article in the 2023 Collegian or check her out on social media!