From a young age, we are told to start thinking about our future: where we want to go to school and what we want to do with our lives. For me, these decisions felt incredibly daunting. Coming out of high school, I had little direction and no clear vision of where I wanted to go to school. The only thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to go far from home, not for any particular reason, as I love my family and friends, but because I was eager to experience something new. And so my search for the perfect university began.
Discovering a Hidden Gem
After a few months of looking for the right school, I still had no idea where I wanted to go. I began to get frustrated, so my dad stepped in to help me with the search. One night, as I sat in the kitchen with my dad, him scrolling through his computer, while I rambled about my options, he asked me if I had ever considered Bishop’s, to which I replied “nope, never heard of it!”. I did more research and found out Bishop’s is a tiny school practically in the middle of nowhere. It looked perfect.
A Decision Making Blueprint
At this point, I had to narrow down my choices and make a decision. I started by establishing exactly what I needed in a school. This would be my best advice I can offer to someone currently making this decision: take some time to get to know yourself and what you need. I came to the conclusion that I needed a small, community focused school. A school with support systems and great infrastructure. And finally, access to skiing was a must (I know it sounds silly, but it mattered to me!). Once I realized all of this, it became clear that Bishop’s was the right choice. I was so certain that I accepted my offer before ever visiting the campus.
Tough Goodbyes
Once I settled on Bishops, I started to feel nervous. I realized that I would actually have to leave my friends and everything I was familiar with. Along with this, my closest friends were all going to university together. I was filled with jealousy. I hated that I wouldn’t see them, while they still got to spend time together. Despite this, I knew I made the right choice.
New Beginnings
During the days leading up to my departure to Sherbrooke, I was so nervous. I found myself questioning if I had made the right decision. At this point in my life, I was going through a particularly hard time. I wasn’t sure if I would have the strength to adjust to such a large change.
During my first week, I struggled a lot to put myself out there. Typically, I’m an outgoing person, but at that moment, it felt harder than ever. As I began meeting people, the energy and enthusiasm of everyone at Bishop’s helped me more than I could have imagined. The upper-year students made everything feel so welcoming and fun that, despite my struggles, I found myself truly enjoying my first week.
Bishop’s is known for its incredible school spirit, and that spirit was impossible to ignore. It was during that first week that I realized I was exactly where I was meant to be.
Some valuable advice
Throughout my process picking a university, my parents were persistent in reminding me that where my friends were going should not contribute to my decision. Although it was challenging, I did exactly this, and I do not regret it at all. By choosing a school independent of my friends, I opened myself up to meeting new people.
The best advice I can give anyone searching for the right school is to explore your interests and take time to understand yourself and what you need before making your choice. Go where you want to go, for you and not because of what others are doing. I promise you won’t regret it.