I grew up in Montreal, and I knew all about McGill, including its rich history and legendary hockey team. I wanted to attend a university that had a world perspective, and McGill had a fantastic international reputation. It was the only university I applied to, so I needed it to work out; and it did.
From enjoying campus life, to exploring the world of the arts, sledding on Mont Royal, or spending time in the Laurentians and Eastern Townships, all of these activities were part of my magnificent McGill experience.”
I am very proud to be associated with McGill. I’ve always felt that the University is synonymous with the best of Canada. It embodies the Canadian values I hold dear: inclusion, tolerance, academic curiosity and progressive social thinking.
Since I am French Canadian and had been educated in French up until CEGEP, my time at McGill allowed me to interact with English Quebecers and so many people from the rest of Canada and around the world.
As a Montrealer, I was not eligible to live in residence. However, I was fortunate to live in an apartment downtown, and being away from home for the first time was exciting. It allowed me to discover my own city. From enjoying campus life, to exploring the world of the arts, sledding on Mont Royal, or spending time in the Laurentians and Eastern Townships, all of these activities were part of my magnificent McGill experience.
I also got to enjoy Montreal during the summer, when the city comes alive with festivals. I volunteered at the Montreal Neurological Institute, and one of my proudest moments was being presented with a Terry Fox Humanitarian Award.
At McGill, I chose to study economics because I wanted to understand how society functions (not because I had an ambition to become an economist). Studying the liberal arts exposed me to real world issues, and this ultimately nurtured my passion for journalism and communications. Immediately after completing my McGill degree, I was lucky to land my first job at CNN in Atlanta. I later received a Master’s degree in Communications from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
While the media business I joined was established by large corporations; the future of media is at a new beginning today. With digital media, there is room for this generation to build their own voice and their own companies. I encourage today’s students to hang onto the relationships they form at McGill, and to build on them. These relationships will bring a tremendous amount of support and opportunity in the future.