The second time is just as sweet
Patrizia Brenelli, who graduated with the highest GPA among undergrads, is already thinking about her next degree.
Photo by Kate Hutchinson
Patrizia Brenelli doesn’t fit everyone’s image of an undergraduate student, but her BA in Psychology is actually the second degree for this 45-year-old mother, wife, and businesswoman.
“I got a BComm in Quantitive Methods from Concordia in 1983,” she said, “and ever since then I’ve wanted to come back.”
Upon graduation (the first time), Brenelli moved to her native Italy, where she opened and ran a successful import / export business in Milan for 21 years. Three years ago when she decided to “change her life and go back to school,” she considered the obvious MBA route.
“But I thought, I’ll always be a businesswoman, so let’s try something different.”
Having enjoyed reading psychology throughout her career, Brenelli applied to a number of programs, but “there was never really any question that I wanted Concordia.” Upon acceptance, she and her husband sold the business, and moved to Montreal with their daughter.
Going to school with students half her age was no problem. “ I felt completely at ease and made friends of all ages. It really was like being home again.” And psychology turned out to be a good fit.
“I have two sides, a scientific one, and a more humanistic one.” Psychology satisfied both with its mix of math, stats and analysis, as well as theory and behaviour. “It really is a complete discipline,” she said. “I loved it. The work was a pleasure.”
Brenelli’s pleasure translated into outstanding academic results. She is this year’s recipient of the Rytsa Tobias Memorial Medal, awarded to the highest-ranking student graduating with a BA degree, and the Governor-General’s Silver Medal, awarded to the highest ranking undergraduate who is graduating.
Now that she’s finished with such distinction, Brenelli is returning to work full-time at the import/ export business she and her husband have opened in Canada. But she still has the learning bug.
“I am seriously considering another degree,” she said. “But this time at the graduate level. Two undergraduate degrees are enough.”