From Shoppers Drug Mart Cashier to Product Manager: How I Survived a 1.1 GPA

I believe the best way to find what you love in life is to do something you hate. For me, that meant spending years grinding 40-hour weeks as a cashier at Shoppers Drug Mart.

While I was scanning items and managing the checkout line, I knew I wanted more. I took a massive risk and decided to study Computer Science at university in hopes of making a career change. I didn’t choose it because I was a “natural.” Instead, I chose it out of pure curiosity and a desire to build a different life.

The Wake-Up Call: Dealing with a 1.1 GPA

The transition wasn’t smooth. In my first semester, I failed. I was in over my head, and my academic standing hit “Probationary” with a 1.1 GPA.

• The Reality Check: I remember going to the professor’s office for help because I simply could not understand anything.
• The Struggle: I had never programmed before in my life. I was embarrassed, but I refused to stop.

I kept showing up to lectures and coding every single day, even when the logic didn’t make sense. I was no longer just a cashier; I was a student fighting for a future in tech.

The Turnaround: From 1.1 to 3.92

By my second year, something clicked. I went from a 1.1 to a 3.92 GPA. That academic comeback opened doors I never thought possible, leading to my first internship in software development.

I realized that the main reason I failed initially wasn’t a lack of intelligence. It was fear. I let fear of the unknown take over. I only truly succeeded when I let go of that fear and finally felt confident enough to call myself an engineer.

Where I Am Now: Product Management

Today, I’ve taken those lessons from the retail floor and the computer lab into Product Management.

My time as a cashier taught me customer empathy, and my time in Computer Science taught me how to solve complex problems. I love what I do now, and I’m continuing to expand my academic knowledge in Computer Science at the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).

If you are currently working a job you hate or starin