#UBishopsAbroad: Jonathan Shea

The Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) recently launched the Learning Beyond Borders program to provoke a national conversation on learning abroad.

At Bishop’s University, we nurture studying abroad as a transformational life-changing experience, opening minds to different ways of living, promoting understanding, contributing to academic success, enhancing communication skills, self-awareness, and adaptability. It also offers opportunities to develop soft skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving, deemed necessary in a global workforce. To promote this national conversation, we are featuring Bishop’s students who have taken advantage of our study abroad program.

Meet Jonathan Shea, a BA Major in Biodiversity and Ecology, concentration in Environmental Studies, who studied at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

“My experience at Monash University in Melbourne far exceeds any of the expectations I had prior to going into this exchange. Although it was hard to leave my family and friends in Canada, I found it to be incredibly easy making great friends with the Aussies and other exchange students at Monash. This campus became a home away from home for me and there is never a dull moment with nothing to do. Whether it is chilling at campus centre, surfing at the beach or heading into the city, there’s always something to do and someplace new to explore.

If there is any advice that I could give to anyone considering studying abroad, I’d say just go for it! Have no hesitations and be as involved in clubs and campus activities as possible. I’ve learned so much about myself through this amazing experience and been to so many amazing places here in Australia. If I could, I’d do it all over again.”