Ambassador to President: Aryan Vaswani’s McMaster Journey

It’s easy to measure success by test scores and transcripts, but Aryan Vaswani has redefined what it means to thrive here at McMaster. Not only did he earn his degree with distinction, he built a community in the process.

Four years ago, and over 10,000 km away, Vaswani sat in his family home in Dubai, debating which university he would attend. McMaster was a top choice: he knew its reputation for research and robust academic programs so when the offer of admission came through, it was an easy decision.

Even before he set foot in Canada, his family set him up for success. His sister, who studied at the University of Waterloo made sure he knew what he needed in order to succeed at university. His parents showed him the importance of family and guidance. These lessons he took with him every step of the way.

This meant that Vaswani was prepared in ways many students don’t consider until they arrive on campus. He understood the importance of community, and how to balance academics with social life. Even when it meant leaving his comfort zone, he knew by growing his community, he grew his experiences too.

It wasn’t long before he felt at home at Mac. “The faster I embraced it, the better it was for me,” he said. He was ready to jump first into the life that would shape his future.

Ambassadors and Beyond

In his first year, Vaswani had joined the McMaster Economics Society (MES) as a marketing rep, and moved up each year, building the society he wanted to see for future students.

By his second year, he became a Social Science Ambassador, assisting students in their transition into life at Mac. His goal was to make an impact with the student body, and he achieved it. He first began as an international student ambassador until the programs merged. By his third year he was guiding younger students in finding their path.

In his final year, Vaswani helped countless students through his ambassadorship, and filled the role as president with the MES. He was committed to building a relationship with the staff in Economics to ensure that he could make the best of the events they offered.

“Working with Aryan as a student leader was seamless. His outstanding communication with the department ensured that everyone stayed informed and aligned. This clarity was crucial in helping us effectively communicate upcoming events to our students, contributing to the overall success of our initiatives.” Emma Beamson UG Admin

In his final year he ran Meet the Profs, an event that was four years in the making. Meet the Profs was a panel discussion with eight economic professors. Students asked them for expert advice, input, and opinions that would help them in the coming years. This event gave students in any year a chance to talk about how best to set up their future, and explore their passions.

Vaswani wanted to run this event ever since he joined the McMaster Economics Society. When he joined, he saw a gap that prevented students from networking with their faculty.

The pandemic impacted on the connections the society and the department had built. Traditions were forgotten, protocol was lost. Vaswani knew that this society was the main connection Economics students had with their department. It’s no surprise he saw an area that needed improvement, and he took the initiative to do it.

Returning home

Even now, 10,000km away from campus and after he graduated, Vaswani still takes any chance to help students. He wants students to know that every year will offer you something special, and to take it one day at a time. He’s proud of what he was able to grow for himself, and the impacts he made.

“You can dream that sky’s the limit, but it always seems farfetched, until they come true”, he said. Now, those dreams became reality for him. “If you have one bad day, look forward to the next.”