Degree gives grad a classic view of the world

Wong

At convocation this month, Edwin Wong is being recognized for outstanding achievement as the top student in the faculty of humanities - not bad for someone who four years ago nearly didn't have the marks to be accepted into UVic.

"It's pretty funny," he says. "I was just on the cusp in terms of grades, and was a whisker away from not getting in. I guess that shocked me into trying a bit harder."

The extra push paid off, and now Wong is graduating with a degree in Greek and Roman studies - and a medal. His special area of interest is the relevance of the classics in today's modern world.

"I think that a knowledge of the classics, coupled with a knowledge of how the world is now, gives you a chance to see the world through different lenses," he says. "You encounter the same stories through different times and in different cultures. The characters have other names, but the essential experiences are the same."

Wong credits his faculty mentors with making each course memorable, and for introducing him to the many benefits of studying the classics. He'll continue his studies this fall at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was awarded the Joukowsky Presidential Fellowship.

"You can wet your feet in philosophy, literature, history and science; it's such a diverse field," he says. "For me, studying the classics is like going back to a homeland."