James McCalmont
Honours Bachelor of Commerce
Keswick, ON
Sometimes beautiful experiences come through a series of coincidentally. I didn't choose Lakehead. Lakehead chose me. I value being able to talk to my professor face to face, shake their hands and ask them questions. No middleman to my education at Lakehead. The environment is an extension of the small classroom sizes of a high school with cutting edge & thought provoking learning material. It's really the best environment for me personally. I get the attention I need to excel and grow. The Student Life at Lakehead is in constant motion, its really exciting to be apart of a school that's still in its early years because I feel that I can make an impact. I constantly catch myself brainstorming ideas for creation that will out live my time at LU. And that's simply the beauty of it. The Student Life is 100% what you make of it, it's your blank canvas to colour.
At LU Orillia we haven't yet broke two thousand, and this is apparent and imperative in your decision for post secondary education. Take it from a person who has always valued the concept of "Big Fish Small Pond". People know you for who you are and what you are becoming here at Lakehead. A professor at Lakehead Orillia couldn't be less concerned with your student number. Invaluable opportunities at every corner, breeding grounds for the new generation of powerful leaders. You are the student life and have every opportunity to contribute to the growth of what it means to go LU Orillia. I challenge you to come to Lakehead because no matter who you are, or where you come from Lakehead you will present you with inspiration and push you to grow to your full potential. You will meet meaningful individuals who will impact your life and the way you think and learn in a way in which words can't justify. Exceptionally. Unconventional.
Participating in YLCC, which was a leadership retreat focused on self-improvement & team leading abilities, then being able to write about it in the local Orillia Packet was mind-blowing. (http://www.orilliapacket.com/2013/10/22/leadership-retreat-expands-horiz...) I've been raised by a Grandmother who's always wanted to see me as a journalist on TV, this brought tears to her eyes with joy when it was published in print & on the website. Later in the year I was fortunate enough to also be chosen to be a participant in this years CCSL national conference at McMaster University. This was a conference for student leaders across the nation to come together and participate in a conversation on student leadership. I use some of the skills I've acquired through these events in my day to day, with work, family and friends. I accredit a huge amount of these opportunities to the friends I've made. Coming here in September if you would of told me you had a crystal ball I would be very good friends with two girls in upper years deeply involved in student leadership, I would of probably laughed at you. This will definitely embarrass them but that's okay because it’s nothing short of the truth. Anna Lisa Martin & Sami Pritchie really acted as mentors for me this year. These girls are two of the most inspirational people I've ever met. Maybe it was just I. Maybe I just watched too many American Pie movies before Universities. But I definitely thought upper year students’ would haze me before they'd invite me in to help them advocate leadership on Campus. These girls believe in me and that's so motivating as a younger student. I really cherish that type of mentorship. On a final note in the same regard, being involved with the Lakehead Men’s Hockey team was also a beautiful and humbling experience for me. I hadn't played Hockey since I was 15 and fell out with the desire to due to social reasons. I tried really hard and feel as though the ice time I did get I deserved. Lakehead gave me a new paradigm and made me realize there is a place for me in a Hockey dressing room. I love trying new things, this year supported my spontaneity in full force.