I chose Bishop’s because I come from a HUGE family—10 brothers! Our house was always loud and crazy, so I wanted to move somewhere that felt a bit quieter and more personal. I liked the idea of a small, friendly campus where I wouldn’t just be another face in the crowd. Plus, I heard the school spirit here is next level, and I wanted to be part of that!
Also, I was obsessed with the idea of snow. Coming from a place where summer temps easily hit 50 degrees Celsius, I thought winter would be all cozy sweaters and snowball fights. Yeah… turns out, snow is fun for about five minutes, and then it’s just cold, wet, and everywhere.
When I got here, though, I was blown away by how friendly everyone was. People were super welcoming, helped me find my way around, and made me feel at home right away. The campus was beautiful, and even though I was far from home, I started settling in fast. But there was one thing I didn’t think about at all—what I’d do if I had a medical issue.
Out of Breath and Out of Options
Like I said, I expected the cold, the snow, and the need for layers. What I didn’t expect was how different the healthcare system would be—and I learned that the hard way.
Back home, I could just walk into any pharmacy and buy my asthma inhaler. No prescription, no problem. So, when I ran out of my inhaler here, I figured it would be just as easy.
Nope. I walked into a pharmacy, asked for my inhaler, and got a confused look.
“Do you have a prescription for that?”
I didn’t. And since I didn’t have a family doctor in Canada, I thought my only option was to go to the ER to get one.
So, I did—and I waited. For seven. Whole. Hours.
Sitting there, exhausted and frustrated, all I could think was how back home, this would have taken five minutes at a pharmacy.
A few days later, I was complaining to a friend about the whole thing when they said something that could have saved me all that stress:
“You could have just gone to the campus clinic! You just have to call or send an email for an appointment!”
Honestly, I should bill myself for wasted time and emotional damage.
I couldn’t believe it—Bishop’s has its own clinic, literally three minutes from my dorm!
If I’d known, I could have gotten my prescription, seen a doctor, and skipped the ER nightmare.
The Bishop’s Health Clinic offers:
- Medical consultations for students
- Prescriptions for common medications
- Check-ups
- No need for a family doctor to access care
Now, whenever I meet a new student, especially an international student, I make sure to tell them about the campus clinic—so they don’t end up stuck in the ER like I did!
What I Wish I Had Known from Day One
Moving to a new country, new climate, and new school was a challenge. But looking back, these are the two things I wish I had known sooner:
- The campus clinic is there to help—skip the ER for non-emergencies.
- Check out all the student services before you even get here. Bishop’s has so much support available, and knowing about it early can make your life way easier.
So, if you’re coming to Bishop’s, do yourself a favor—learn about all the resources before you need them. You will thank yourself later!
