Hidden Gem Bishop's University Viewbook Fall 2023

The Future of You

team in the Quad, writing a play and performing it in the community theatre festival or organizing a rub ber-duck golf charity event, from the moment you step on campus it’s clear you’re empowered tomake the most of your time in Lennoxville. You’re encour aged to try, fail, learn, grow, reflect and do it all over again”, says Katie. “Without a doubt, Bishop’s is the place that taught us how to be comfortable in our skin, to challenge the status quo, to leverage our unique hu man advantages and build together. During our time in Lennoxville, we were encouraged to question, debate, criticize, and empathize. The University’s teaching en vironment and surrounding communities feed on dis covery, adventure, exploration, empowerment, taking risks and making mistakes. Because we were able to fully immerse ourselves as Bishop’s students, we have a competitive advantage now in building and scaling our business.” Katie, Shayne and Adam were involved in a wide array of activities while at Bishop’s including student gov ernment, student ambassadors, student-athlete, dra ma and theatre, B.E.S.T. project fund recipients, and dance, just to name a few. It was by getting involved and meeting a wide variety of people that the personal growth occurred which in turn starting opening doors to various opportunities. Shayne reflects, “Bishop’s University is a place of never-ending opportunity. It is the kind of place that takes pride in making learn ing happen beyond its classroom doors. A significant portion of the learning that happens at Bishop’s is from extra-curricular involvement and it is up to YOU, as students, to take initiative, take action and make things happen. You have a lot more influence than you might think (even in your first year!) and you can make a big impact – fast. Lean into your opportunities, lead with curiosity, and accept the opportunity to immerse yourself into unfamiliar territory.” That’s not only what a university experience is all about, that’s what a liberal education is all about and is something that Bishop’s does exceptionally well.

University is said to be one of the greatest times in your life, an opportunity to meet individuals from around the world, make life-long relationships, uncov er new passions, have new experiences, and undergo personal growth and discovery. Bishop’s is a special place where all of this can happen for you, but for three of our young alumni, Katie, Shayne and Adam, this could not have been truer.

These three individuals did not know each other prior to coming to Bishop’s University, and as with many of our students’ expe riences, they met on campus and became lifelong friends. How ever, not only have they become great friends, but also business partners, founding The Future of You Company Inc. (www.futureof workskills.ca). When asked to describe what The Future of You is all about,

Adam provides the following explanation, “We provide training programs and workshops to support emerging leaders in mastering entrepreneurial skills (like prob lem-solving, emotional intelligence, and creativity) so they can reach peak performance and generate a return-on-investment faster. Our flagship product, the Future of Work Skills program, is the first in Canada to offer an intentional, experiential, and self-directed learning model for teaching these skills. So far, we’ve worked with customers in the private industry, educa tion, and economic development to support over 850 young professionals across Canada.” There is a specific kind of person who chooses Bish op’s. They want to be part of something and to con tribute; they are “all-in”. And, when they graduate, they leave with an entrepreneurial edge. “This edge comes from the experiential learning that is quintessential to each of our Bishop’s ex periences. Whether it is choosing our orientation

From left to right: Katie LeClair , Class of 2013. Hometown : South Mountain, ON. Program : Bachelor of Business Adminis tration. Shayne Cowan-Cholette , Class of 2018. Hometown: Ottawa, ON. Program: Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts – Honors Drama. Adam Peabody , Class of 2013. Hometown: Fredericton, NB. Program: Bachelor of Arts – Politics, Economics and Public Administration

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