From West to East: A Coast to Coast Experience
Celina Lam // September 28, 2012
When I told my parents I had decided to go to the Mount for university, I was met with surprise. A big city girl flying across Canada to attend school in a small community like Halifax was hard to believe. However, I believe that the Mount’s personal approach and strong sense of community is exactly what I needed.
University has always been on my agenda from day one. My family, in particular, put great emphasis on education and study, so it was assumed that I would follow the course of my father and become a UBC alumnus. However, I had my own plans and that did not include Vancouver.
I didn’t expect to end up studying public relations, but somehow I found myself pursuing it as a career. Unfortunately, PR programs are not exactly easy to find. When I discovered an undergraduate program with a co-op at the Mount, I knew I had found where I wanted to be. Small class sizes, a personal teaching approach, and classes tailored to student needs were all attractive aspects of the program. But the idea of moving across the country was a scary thought.
I have lived in Vancouver all my life. My childhood and values are all rooted in west coast culture. Even the idea of flying so far from home made my knees shake. Nevertheless, I knew that in order to achieve my dream, I had to chase after it. It took all my courage, but I packed my bags and left for the east coast.
Now that I’m here, I can confirm that the Mount, and the PR program, has so much to offer. The PR program gives students a taste of the world beyond books and studies. It gives students a chance to experience hands-on what PR is really like and allows them to apply their education to real-life situations. The small class sizes give students the opportunity to build one-on-one relationships with professors, meaning help is always there when it’s needed. But, most importantly, the Mount is a tight-knit community that gives students the flexibility to choose their courses and learn at their own pace.
Although being far from home is difficult, I believe I made the right decision choosing the Mount. Although life in Halifax compared to Vancouver is totally different in nature and culture, I believe that this trip has allowed me to truly see the world in new ways. My experiences thus far in the PR program have allowed me to better understand my own capabilities. Public Relations classes at the Mount have fueled my passion for communicating and have provided me with a strong foundation to take on the professional world.
