Peter Khan’s journey to the University of Toronto was anything but conventional. Born in South Korea, Peter has lived many lives—military cadet, international liaison officer, marketing writer, fashion trader, monastic aspirant, and now, a graduating philosophy student and financial advisor. His story is one of resilience, reinvention, and a relentless pursuit of meaning.
Peter’s academic path began in sociology, where he excelled, completing a four-year degree in just three and a half years while simultaneously training as a military cadet in his home country. His military service, which spanned four years, included a prestigious role as a liaison officer with the United Nations and U.S. Forces in Korea. “It was an amazing experience,” he recalls. “I gave daily briefings to generals, worked with intelligence officers, and learned American culture firsthand.”
After the military, Peter pursued political science and later a master’s degree in international relations, where his passion for theory and philosophy deepened. He became captivated by thinkers like Gilles Deleuze and later Immanuel Kant, whose work he credits with helping him process trauma and understand the boundaries between imagination and reality. “Kant helped me realize that not everything I imagine is real. That insight helped me heal.”
But Peter’s varied interest and a certain restlessness meant that his life did not follow a straight line. After working in marketing and fashion—where he traveled between Paris, Tokyo, and Seoul—he suffered a serious injury in Kuwait that left him bedridden for months. During that time, he began to reflect deeply on his life’s direction. “I wanted something more meaningful,” he says. “Not to be a priest, but to have a quiet, contemplative life.”
This desire led him to a Benedictine monastery in South Korea, and later to a Dominican community in Hong Kong, an experience that unfortunately ended in a traumatic experience Peter rather not detail. Despite the pain, Peter’s faith, and his curiosity about the world and varied perspectives, endured.
In 2019, Peter immigrated to Canada, seeking a fresh start. He arrived in British Columbia in the dead of winter, eventually making his way to Toronto and enrolling at U of T. “I needed education, community, and a place to stand,” he says. He chose philosophy, drawn by its reflective nature and its power to help him integrate the many parts of his life.
At U of T, Peter found not only intellectual stimulation but also healing. “Philosophy helped me organize my thoughts, prioritize my time, and understand the consequences of my decisions,” he explains. He speaks with admiration for professors who encouraged students to think independently—something he found lacking in the hierarchical academic culture of South Korea. “Here, I learned how to form my own opinion.”
Balancing full-time studies with full-time work, Peter began as a barista at Starbucks before moving into banking. He now works as a financial advisor at CIBC, where he’s been promoted twice and recognized for top performance. Yet he doesn’t see banking as just a job. “It’s about connecting with people,” he says. “I listen to their stories, meet them heart to heart.”
Despite his success, Peter remains in search of balance. He recently spent three months at a Carthusian monastery in Vermont, exploring the possibility of a monastic life. “I carry all these desires—banker, monk, academic,” he says. “They’re all part of me. I don’t shut them down. I try to appreciate each voice.”
Peter’s life is a testament to the power of introspection, discipline, and adaptability. He manages his time with military precision, mapping out every assignment and prioritizing tasks based on impact. “Time management is how I survive,” he says. “I’m responsible for my inner child, and I need to take care of him.”
Though he initially struggled to find the community he so desired at U of T due to his demanding schedule, Peter eventually connected with other mature students. He now dreams of creating a space for students like him—those navigating school, work, and life transitions. “We could just have tea, talk about life. Not a book club, just connection.”
As he graduates with high distinction, Peter reflects on the value of his U of T experience. “It changed my life. I learned to think, to argue, to write clearly. And I found a place where I could begin again.”
Whether he continues in banking, returns to the monastery, or pursues graduate studies, Peter Khan’s journey is far from over. But wherever he goes, he carries with him a rare blend of intellectual depth, spiritual yearning, and practical wisdom—an uncommon life, lived with uncommon grace.
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