Merrin Vickers

Keswick, ON
Port Perry High School
Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry
Class of 2019

Growing up in a town that didn’t even have a stop light, I wasn’t really content with choosing a large university. I applied to Bishop’s very randomly and slightly last minute, bugging my mom for her credit card information while she was taking a nap so that I could submit my application on time. When I was accepted, and accepted my offer, my mom was thrilled as I had chosen our family alma mater – which coincidently I had no idea of! In fact, Lennoxville and area has been part of my family for over 200 years and I tell my mom that it was the best credit card purchase she’s ever made.

Bishop’s has been a land of opportunity for me and it is so hard to provide just one or two examples as there have been so many that I’ve been able to take advantage of. During my time at Bishop’s I became the Co-Captain of the BU Cheerleading team. Along with my Co-Captain, we were able to take a fledgling club and through strict organization and team dedication, elevate it to a point where we are being considered for becoming a varsity club along with the support to do so. In my third year, I had the opportunity to travel to India to volunteer with a veterinarian working with rescued elephants and helping injured animals. I think that if I were at any other university, I would have had to miss an entire semester, but because of the incredible people at Bishop’s, I was granted the opportunity to provide alternate assignments to have the chance to learn about what I am passionate about – because that is the kind of thing BU supports. This experience helped confirm my passion for helping and working with animals and pursuing a career as a veterinarian.

Bishop’s is an amazing place but what’s more amazing are the people that make it what it is. BU changes from day to day, month to month, year to year. With that change, it keeps getting better. Whether it be because of initiatives like Safewalk, or Bystander Intervention Training, or events like Winterfest, or Mental Health Awareness Week, or funding for clubs and student projects. Bishop’s will only be as good as the students it has. BU attracts a certain type of person – dedicated, engaged, passionate, academically driven, community oriented, accepting – and that is what makes BU special. As different as we all are, we are all so similar because we love this place. And that’s the best part about our Bubble.