They proudly represented their graduating class. But what happens after they walk the stage? In this series, we’re catching up with past Bishop’s University valedictorians to see where life has taken them since their big day. From her time at Bishop’s to her journey beyond, Sally Cunningham, Class of 2021, shares her experiences, challenges, and what she wishes she’d known back then.
Where are you now?
I am a writer and instructional designer based in Montreal. After Bishop’s, I went to Newfoundland and completed an MA in English at Memorial University, where I wrote a Young Adult novel as my master’s thesis. My other work, which spans short fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting, and poetry, can be found in Yolk Literary, Riddle Fence, Accenti Magazine, Paragon Press (forthcoming), Milk Bag Magazine (forthcoming), and more. I have a play called Pianoland, which will be part of the Women’s Work Festival this spring. I have also been a Writer in Residence at the Sundress Academy for the Arts.
How did your time at Bishop’s shape your career?
During the pandemic, I was a part of the Online Learning and Technology Consultancy (OLTC) Program. It gave me a start in educational media development, Moodle know-how, and pedagogy/andragogy. As a BU student, I had the opportunity to work directly with professors. Now, I help instructors at Selkirk College manage their online courses, oversee system-wide upgrades, and even build course content with teams of industry professionals for Continuing Education programs.
Bishop’s is such a student-centred institution, and experiencing that core value has strongly influenced my work in post-secondary education. Being involved with The Mitre was a huge step in building my self-confidence as both a writer and editor. Pairing that experience with literary theory classes and creative writing classes, I was able to build my voice as a writer. I experimented with forms like screenwriting, playwriting, and short fiction —only to come to the conclusion that I like them all!
Tips and advice for current Bishop’s students:
Always ask! There are no downsides to asking for opportunities! I cannot say it enough, but if you have any inkling of wanting to do, start or join something on campus, Bishop’s has the most supportive instructors and staff you could hope for. Everyone is genuinely rooting for your success, and often, they will go above and beyond to help you get things moving.
At BU, I got involved in so many different ways! I edited The Mitre, joined Bishop’s Bees, New Plays, Ringette Club, B.E.S.T. Project Fund, being a departmental representative, etc. Every one of those opportunities began with my shyly asking and then getting an overwhelming amount of support.
