As someone who doesn’t deal well with change, and never has, exploring different universities and what their programs have to offer was not something I was ever eager to do. It wasn’t that I was a bad student, it was leaving behind the suburban bubble of education I had been in as long as I can remember.
Choosing Bishop’s
The appeal to Bishop’s was the beautiful campus buildings and tight-knit community. Things that I thought may make me feel at home. Things I had heard were major pulls to universities. I applied to Bishop’s with the chance that I may decide to move away from my hometown, and the universities it has to offer.
Being accepted into my program at Bishop’s I was ecstatic. While still nervous about being away from home, something about Bishop’s felt like an adventure I was more excited than nervous about taking on.
Letting my anxiety get the best of me, I stayed at my hometown university. While I wasn’t as excited about this opportunity, I was even more nervous. Something about being in the same place and yet having such a different routine is daunting.
My time at this university made me realize the environment was not for me. At my old university, I felt disconnected—too many students, distant professors, and no sense of belonging. Within my first week at university, I had reapplied to Bishop’s as I felt their smaller community may solve the issues I had been facing.
Two weeks later I got a notification in my email inbox that my application status had been updated, I had been accepted again. I don’t think it took longer than a minute to open the email and accept the offer.
Starting at Bishop’s
Moving into my dorm room in early January, I was ecstatic. I had visited a few times to see friends during the fall semester, which resulted in me meeting my bog mate and now my best friend. She and I quickly began to explore what the townships had to offer including our shared love for skiing.
Taking In the Townships
Day one of being a student at Bishop’s I skied with a group of eight people at Mount Orford, a mountain only 20 minutes from Bishop’s campus. Those eight skiers became close friends—they welcomed me instantly and eased my anxiety about moving.
Something I had not considered about moving away from home is all the new things around me I have got to explore. Hiking, coffee shops, restaurants and towns I had never even heard of, were all waiting to be seen.
Clubs
After my first semester full of skiing and meeting people with the same love of skiing as me, an opportunity to join ‘BU Snow’ came up. Knowing the co-lead of the club, she encouraged me to apply. For me, BU Snow stood out. Growing up a ski racer, I wasn’t ready to let go of skiing. I was hired as the events coordinator for the club. Additionally, the club has been a fantastic way to involve myself in the community and meet so many incredible people.
A huge event we are able to host at Bishop’s is the Winterfest Rail Jam. Winterfest is a weekend of partying we put on in our ‘quad’ which is the court in the middle of our lecture buildings. The event hosts DJs, and we make a huge rail jump for ski and snowboard competitors to show off their tricks. Helping to plan and organize Canada’s biggest university rail jam is such an honor.
Experiential Learning
Another thing I had not considered important for myself was the opportunity for experiential learning. As a student with dyslexia and ADHD, this is one of the best ways for me to learn. While larger institutions have opportunities for experiential learning, it is much more competitive and harder to find your way in.
The experiential learning department attends campus networking events, to reach as many students as possible. Bishop’s had experiential learning opportunities for every student. I learned through speeches, case competitions, and career days designed to prepare us for future careers.
This did not seem like the case at my past university.
Even without a business major, BU helped me gain real-world experience through experiential learning. Attending a conference that interests you is something BU strives to help you achieve. I was able to attend the John Molson Sports Marketing Conference and Case Competition this fall, and while it was daunting, it was one of the most valuable experiences I have participated in.
Reflecting on where I was three years ago, I now realize that change leads to experiences and connections I never could have imagined. Bishop’s University to me is not only somewhere I attend for education but a place to call home. I have learned so much about myself as a student, a person and a friend. While Bishop’s was once a place outside of my comfort zone, it is now a place I have found comfort in.
