Meet our MC for the big day, a double SFU alumnus (BA Communications, Master of Public Policy), who sat on the Alumni Association Board for a number of years. Aaron was involved in TEDxSFU last year and has been an active volunteer as a speaker and a business case competition judge.
TEDxSFU: Can you tell us one thing that you do in your life that makes you Against The Grain?
AC: Instead of focusing on my own BS day to day, I have dedicated my life to service and trying to find ways to bring out the best in people every day. It’s very fulfilling but makes people wonder if I’m for real.
TEDxSFU: What is your favourite TED Talk?
AC: Sugata Mitra: The child-driven education. From TEDGlobal 2010. Great speaker. Excellent topic. Real inspiring. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I saw this talk.
TEDxSFU: Tell us something no one knows about you.
AC: There’s nothing that NO ONE knows about but… there is something that very few people know about. Growing up, my family was one of the poorer ones in my school and my clothes were always hand-me-downs, things my mom made from scratch (bless her) or army surplus. One time, when I was in elementary school, I had this wealthy friend who was bragging about these custom made Nikes he got from the factory in Oregon. I got tired of him rubbing it in my face so while he was in gym class, I peed in them in the locker room. Filled them right up. The insoles were floating. They never found out it was me and that was over 25 years ago so I think I’m safe to talk about it now.
TEDxSFU: Who is your biggest inspiration?
AC: My Dad. I know, it’s trite and predictable but when we were going through hard times, my Dad never took any handouts from anyone and taught me the value of hard work. When he was laid off for 18 months, he got four paper routes and we lived off that money. He’s also one of the smartest guys I know but he’s not a douche about it. I wish I was more like him.
TEDxSFU: Dogs or cats?
AC: Why not both? I love it when dogs and cats are buddies.
TEDxSFU: What do you love about Vancouver the most?
AC: How clean it is. Overall - I think Vancouver is terribly overrated for a number of reasons but I love how clean it is.
TEDxSFU: What’s your favourite place to eat?
AC: The buffet Asian place in Tinseltown Mall in Chinatown. Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Korean food all in one place? Awesome!
