Meet Alex Thompson, a spirited 32-year-old lecturer at the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Arts, who has lived in Waterloo for over a decade. Growing up in a modest household, Alex has always valued practicality over brand names, and their experiences have shaped a keen perspective on financial responsibility and the importance of hard work. With a background in sociology, they find joy in guiding young adults on navigating life choices, even if it means giving them a tough love approach in their lectures. Alex’s passion for teaching is coupled with a disdain for what they perceive as entitlement, making their spirited comments both a reflection of their own life lessons and an attempt to instill a sense of reality in their students.