Today officially marks my last first day of school.

After 24 years as a student, it feels like a long time coming. I’m in the final stretch of my PhD—putting the finishing touches on my dissertation and preparing to defend before the end of this academic year. After that, I’ll be heading into the so-called “real world,” beginning a full-time corporate role. And truthfully, I couldn’t be more ready.

In the past, I looked forward to each September with anticipation—the excitement of new classes, new professors, new routines. This year feels different. The charm is gone. I feel different. I’ve outgrown this environment, and I’m ready to move on.

Where It All Began

My academic journey started 24 years ago in a suburban Toronto elementary school. From the beginning, I was academically inclined. While classmates dreamed of becoming teachers or firefighters, eight-year-old me declared I wanted to be a geneticist and cure rare diseases.

That determination carried me through the International Baccalaureate Programme in high school, some of the most intense years of my education. Between extended essays, independent research projects, and grueling three-hour exams, it was at times tougher than university. I graduated with honours, top marks in the social sciences, and near-perfect grades in biology and mathematics.

Finding My Way in University

In 2015, I started my undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto. Initially, I thought I’d pursue environmental law, but after struggling to stay awake in yet another political science lecture, I pivoted. By my second year, I’d chosen health studies and urban geography—on a whim, but it stuck.

Those years shaped the trajectory I’m still on. A research project on food environments in the Bronx laid the foundation for my current doctoral research. A human geography field course in Montreal connected me with local scholars and activists, sparking my passion for urban issues. I graduated with high distinction, earned scholarships and awards, and still take pride in achievements like having the top mark in a 500-student environmental geography course (despite not even majoring in that subject) and acing a statistics midterm with a perfect score. The lone blemish on my transcript? A B+ in first-year political science…but we don’t talk about that.

A Master’s as a Stepping Stone

After my BA, I pursued a Master of Public Health at U of T—again, somewhat on a whim. I knew a PhD was my ultimate goal, but the thought of a research-based master’s felt intimidating at the time. A course-based MPH felt safer.

Looking back, it was the right choice. While I paid tuition out of pocket, I gained a broad set of research and practical skills—biostatistics, qualitative methods, survey design, implementation science—that gave me an edge later on.

The PhD Years

In 2021, I began my doctoral program. At last, I was doing what I had envisioned years earlier: conducting independent research, becoming “Dr. Caruso.” I was excited to design a project from scratch and put my skills into practice.

That excitement carried me far, but I’d be lying if I said it never faded. Four years is a long time to live with one project. At times, it has been rewarding; at others, monotonous. But it has also confirmed something important: I am ready to step beyond academia.

Ready for What’s Next

All I’ve ever known is school. For 24 years, “student” has been central to how I introduced myself. But this year, for the first time, I feel ready to discover who I am outside of that identity.

As I turn the page, I find myself feeling the same way I did at four years old, walking into kindergarten for the first time—excited, curious, ready to learn and explore. This time, though, it won’t be in a classroom.