Duncan Crabtree

Toronto, ON
Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute
Bachelor of Arts Double Major History & Global Studies and Political Studies
Class of 2020

For me choosing Bishop’s was about finding a university that would offer me a variety of opportunities to achieve my personal goals, but that would also provide me with a great education and allow me to meet all sorts of new people with whom I could share ideas and grow intellectually and personally. I wish I had known how diverse of a community I would find at Bishop’s, it would have made my decision even easier had I known to what extent our campus is one on which you can meet people from all sorts of cultural backgrounds and with such unique life experiences. The most one learns in university comes not from the courses one takes but from the perspective changing conversations one has with other students on a range of topics.

With that said though, Bishop’s professors have challenged me and held me to high standards inside the classroom. They have always been willing to provide extra help when necessary and are very approachable. In fact, many have reached out to connect with me and are interested in my aspirations for the future – they simply care about me as a person.

Many of the courses I have taken have provided me with perspectives that allow me to think differently about the world I live in. This motivates me as a student because I feel like what I am studying in class really matters in the outside world. I usually get the sense that the material I study in a course has practical implications to the knowledge or skills that will serve me in a career in that discipline.

Probably the biggest indication for me of how much I appreciate the Bishop’s academic experience was that when I went on exchange to France, I was disappointed in the courses I took. These courses made the quality of Bishop’s courses, the professionalism of Bishop’s professors and the way in which professors strive to make their courses applicable and relevant to the future of their students really stand out to me.

Overall, I feel like my academic skills have greatly improved so far as a student at Bishop’s. In particular, my research methodology, my analytical and reasoning abilities and my capacity to express myself through writing and oral presentation have all been enhanced in ways I could not have imagined. It is normal to feel scared, nervous, unprepared or like you are unable to do what is being asked of you in university. Every student has felt that way at some point. The point, in my opinion, is not to be prepared for all that which you will face in university. Rather, it is to be aware that there will be challenges that you will not be completely prepared for and that these are the challenges that will help you grow the most.