This poem was written in memory of those gone but not forgotten; in recognition of those with whom we have lost touch but who remain connected to each member of the EMBA Class of ’94; and in celebration of who we each are as individuals and as members of that inaugural Queen’s EMBA class who took a special journey together, and forever changed our lives. This poem was written in 2019, twenty-five years after graduating from the first Queen’s EMBA program.
We came together way back in ‘92
Like guinea pigs for Queen’s EMBA new
We came mostly from Ottawa but fields diverse
With aspirations to learn about the new universe.
We immersed ourselves in Kingston and Queen’s
Getting to know each other by various means
At the Donald Gordon Centre we did our studies
Learning about ourselves and becoming buddies.
For the next two years and spending thousands of hours
We exhausted ourselves in what was no bed of flowers
Case studies and papers, presentations and tests
It was never ending but together, we gave it our best.
We learned about economics, law and strategy too
HR, Finance, and statistics until we were blue
We studied diversity, IT and operations
Not to forget accounting and labour relations.
The professors themselves had to adapt how they taught
t’s safe to say for many we were more than they thought
They gave it their best and we’ll remember their names
But chief was Pitfield with philosophy and political games
Thirty-seven started with only one loss early on
Teamwork was key to avoid too many dusks to dawn
We laughed at ourselves and celebrated success
We partied and let go to help manage the stress.
Our families and partners were a part of the journey
Their support was critical to avoid gurneys and attorneys,
On the program end, we had Sandra and Gordon
They took care of us, protecting like game wardens.
To mention each one of us would mean quite a poem
Or a real poet like Leonard Cohen
Thanks to the newsletters and the yearbook that was made
We have other sources to support as our memories fade
There have been many changes for each since ‘94
Careers and families, and there will be many more
We have left our mark at Queen’s along the way
We’ll not be forgotten, our legacy will always stay.
Over the years and now with twenty-five gone by
We remember our time as if a blink of the eye
We succeeded together, we went way beyond
Life changing forever, EMBA’94 is our bond.