Creative beginnings
Like most children, I was exposed to many creative activities at a young age… finger painting and backyard shows dressing up as cowgirls, princesses, and clowns; ballet, painting, piano lessons, and the list goes on. I didn’t realize at the time how my daily life was jam-packed with creativity. As a 21-year-old business student, I found myself more inclined towards analytical thinking. It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but I noticed a significant decline in my creative expression. I began to think that I had to choose between pursuing business or embracing my artistic side. But I’ve come to realize that this doesn’t have to be the case. Here, there’s a rich selection of courses, encouraging students with diverse interests to embrace the options and explore their potential at Bishop’s.
Elective regret
Electives are supposed to be courses selected outside of your major, primarily to enrich your curriculum and encourage growth. In the past, I gravitated toward basic intro classes like philosophy, anthropology, and sociology, and found myself buying costly textbooks, absorbing vast amounts of knowledge without focusing on what interested me. I was missing the point of “electives.” I was supposed to choose something I wanted to do, not just something that made sense.
The vow: find my options
During my second year at Bishop’s after one particularly insufferable elective, I made a vow to not take the easy route. Instead, I would choose something of real interest to me that would enrich my life in some way. When the time came to pick courses, I scrolled right to the art options, and with some apprehension, chose Costume Design. After all, I’d never sewed in my life. My mother once stapled the hem of my pants, but I didn’t exactly have a lot of experience in this area! The course description included keywords like fashion, design, drawing, creative freedom, hands-on learning, and many more words that felt foreign in my world. Despite my wariness, I was excited to tap into my inner child and finally try something new. Me, doing fashion? How exciting! I felt like a kid again. I could hear my brother grabbing my arm, saying, “Let’s make a pirate costume and put on a show!”.
Imposter syndrome
On the first day of class, I struggled to find the theatre: I had never actually stepped foot in it! With the help of Bishop’s security, I found my way to Centennial Theatre. Everybody introduced themselves, and out of 25 students, I was the only non-Art major. When my turn came, I was overwhelmed with imposter syndrome and considered walking out of the room and never returning. I ignored my intrusive thoughts and mustered the courage to introduce myself; no one batted an eye. My relief was palpable, and as the semester progressed, I realized that stepping out of my comfort zone was exactly what I needed.
The structured, analytical thinking I relied on in my Business courses was challenged, and I was forced to approach problems in a completely different way. Instead of numbers and equations, I found myself immersed in colours, textures, and patterns. The professor and students made it their duty to welcome me and took the time to teach me topics that may have been trivial to them. With each passing week, I began to see the real value in all this.
Crafting personal triumphs
It’s a pretty visceral feeling going from a structured accounting class to a room full of creatives letting their ideas and thoughts flow. One of the most rewarding experiences was seeing my ideas come to life. I conceptualized and assembled a vest from scratch –From a sketch to a simple piece of fabric, to a fully formed garment; the transformation was nothing short of magical. The vest is also nothing to phone home about, but it allowed me to disconnect everyday stresses and add something to my bag that wasn’t for anyone but me. That’s what university is all about, and every stitch was a testament to my newfound creativity and determination. If you’d told me six months ago that I’d be capable of such feats, I’d have laughed. Yet here I am, creating clothing with my own two hands.
Embrace the journey
So, as I look towards the future, I’m thrilled to keep delving into this newfound passion of mine. Although my Business studies remain the top priority, I am extremely thankful for the opportunities that have arisen from my time at Bishop’s.
To those of you who are considering enrolling at Bishop’s, I urge you to embrace exciting, new, and unpredictable choices. Use your electives to grow and learn skills for yourself, not just because they will be useful for your career one day. Your voyage may take you places you never imagined, and you may discover hidden talents you never knew you possessed. So, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and embrace opportunities.
Keep an eye out for me on campus as I proudly sport my handmade creations, trust me you’ll recognize them! 😉
