Damon did a co-op program during his BSc degree which played a pivotal role in his career and largely led him to where he is now.
Outside work he enjoys:
Running, skiing, kayaking, and spending time with family.
Dream job outside academia:
Computer science developer/code writer.
Best advice received:
Ask for help when you need it. We can’t do everything on our own. Someone will always be there to help.
De-stress strategy:
Long-term: run/ exercise, meditate 10 mins/day, get into nature, note things that you are grateful for. In the face of panic: 5-4-3-2-1 method, breathing control/square breathing.
Advice to 20-year-old-self:
My thesis mentor once told me that “at no time in your life should be you without quality of life”. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is both simple and challenging, and now is the time to start. When you think about your future, try asking yourself, “Where do I want to be in 5, 10 and 15 year?” It can be helpful in creating concrete goals.
This post was originally posted to the SFU BPK Instagram on March 3, 2021.