Gergin Naoumov Profile

Degree: B.Sc
Specialist: Physical Geography
Year Of Graduation: 2003

Gergin Naoumov is an M.Sc. candidate in the University of Toronto’s Physical Geography program—a commitment he says requires diligence, patience, an ability to work with others, attention to detail, and a sense of humour.

“I enrolled in a graduate program right after graduation in 2003. Since then, I have been a teaching assistant in three undergraduate courses,” says Gergin, who also finds time to coach the UTM soccer team. 

He says watching the Discovery Channel every day during his high school and undergraduate years led him to believe that a degree in geography, and ultimately a career in nature, would be the most fulfilling option for him.

“My advice would be to do some volunteer work in the field you are interested in, or gain some other exposure in the field early on. Make sure it is what you really want to do. In my experience, the idea of a particular career or area of study was very different than the reality of that position,” he says.

“I would recommend talking to your professors about possible job opportunities. They have established contacts in the industry as well as the experience to guide you.”

If he could do anything differently, he would have taken as many different courses as he could.

“Most students I know changed their areas of study at least once during university,” he says.