My name is Drew Targosz, and I’m a second-year student from Ontario, Canada, double-majoring in Sports Studies and History. If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be thriving in the heart of Québec’s Eastern Townships, I might not have believed you.
My Bishop’s story didn’t start with a clear plan; it started with restless curiosity and a desire for a clean slate. I chose Bishop’s because I wanted to trade the familiar for the unknown.
Aside from my mom being a proud alumna, I had no real ties here. I wanted to step away from the shadows of high school expectations, immerse myself in a new culture, and prove to myself that I could build a life on my own terms.
My First Night on Campus
I still remember exactly how that first night on campus felt. After my parents drove away, the silence of the residence room felt heavy. You’re sitting there, hundreds of kilometres from home, staring at the walls of a room that doesn’t feel like yours yet. The blueprints for your life are completely blank, and you’re pretty much locked in your room alone, trying to figure out what you’re going to do for the next four years of your life.
It’s a terrifying kind of freedom realizing that you are the only one who can decide who you’re going to be in this new world.
How O-Week Changed Everything
O-Week changed everything. It was the point where I could finally step out, meet people, and explore every opportunity given to me. I vividly remember looking at the people moving in at the exact same time as me. In those first few hours, we were total strangers, but by the end of the week, they had become my closest friends.
From facing challenges together to the rush of friendly campus competitions, those moments were the paths I needed to grow.
Giving Back to the Community
Because of that experience, I’ve dedicated myself to being a pillar for this community. I am active in the Bishop’s University History Association (BUHA), B.U. Snow, and the Outdoors Club, and I work on campus for Safe Drive because I want to be the person who others can rely on.
I got involved as an O-Week leader this year, and hopefully will be for years to come, because I want every student to find the connections I found here.
Finding a Second Family
The people I’ve met at Bishop’s are now the family I would do absolutely anything for.
What surprised me most is how this community catches you. Whether you’re grinding through a late-night study session for a big test or stuck halfway through writing a major paper, someone always has your back.
Discovering a New Academic Path
I love this place so much that I decided to add a second major. I started in Sports Studies, but I fell in love with the environment here and wanted to stay longer, so I took on History as well.
Bishop’s is giving me so much more than just the degrees I’m working toward. It is where I am growing from a student into the man I’m supposed to be.
Looking Toward the Future
As I look toward my third year, I’m even preparing for an international exchange, a leap of faith I never would’ve imagined taking before Bishop’s. It gave me the space to find my own path and become the best version of myself.
To anyone looking for a home that pushes you to be more: this is it.
Now and forever, I #BleedPurple
