Emily Freire, Honours Social Science Commerce graduate 2011

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Vanier: a chance for Emily to meet a variety of different people, try new things and spread her wings.

"I liked the environment at Vanier," says 2011 Honours Social Science-Commerce graduate Emily Freire. "It was between coming to Vanier and a cegep downtown. But I liked the homey feeling and the multicultural aspect of Vanier. And academically, I'd always heard good things about it. So it was all that plus I liked the kinds of people I met here that made me choose Vanier."

Looking for a change

"I graduated from Laurier Senior High School where most students are of Italian or other European origins. Most students had older brothers and sisters and sometimes even parents who had attended the same school. It meant that most people had the same perspective on life." Emily wanted a change; and that's what she got at Vanier.

"Coming to Vanier was super interesting. I had the opportunity to take advanced English classes which were very exciting and where I was surrounded by people who were as interested in the subject as me."

Getting out of my shell

"Coming here was a chance for me to come out of my shell. I really enjoyed Vanier – more than high school. This is where I made true friends and made connections. I found what I wanted: the liberty of Cegep and a totally different environment."

"When it came to choosing a program I didn't know what I wanted. I decided on Commerce because it includes math courses and that prepares you for university studies in arts or business."

Honours Social Science Commerce was great

"Being in the Honours Social Science Commerce program was great! In the last semester I took two courses with the same group of people and it was wonderful. Being together really cemented our friendships. A few of us have gone to McGill and others to Concordia, but we all still keep in touch."

Well prepared for McGill

"I didn't find my R-score was affected at all by being in Honours. But what it gave me was discipline. It's a more demanding program and the grading and standards are closer to what you find in university. I found I was very well prepared for McGill. I wasn't shocked as many students are when they get to university."

First year is a big adjustment

"There's always a hard adjustment in the first semester. The university environment is much bigger and you're more on your own, but you learn the tricks and talk to people who give you tips and you develop confidence. Already by my second semester I was able to manage my time better."

Studying International Development

"I'm now studying International Development – an interdisciplinary program combining anthropology and political science. I interested in studying law and in doing human rights-based legal work."

A chance to try new things

"At Vanier, it was the multi ethnic aspect that I didn't get in high school that I enjoyed most. It gives you a chance to break out and find yourself. You can try things out away from people who have been around you all your life. So for instance, I worked on The Insider, the Vanier student newspaper. I was a writer and copy editor for a year and a half."

Writing for The Insider

"That was very interesting. I love to write and I had a column of my own where I could write my opinion. But I also wrote about people I met. The best pieces I wrote were an interview with Holocaust survivor Musia Shwartz and with Simon Wajcer, the son of a Holocaust survivor. Both spoke at Vanier during the annual Vanier College Symposium on the Holocaust and Genocide."

"I interviewed Musia Shwartz in her home. I was super shy and had never interviewed someone that way. But I couldn't pass on the opportunity to write about her and I felt very professional."

"While at Vanier I also was a Social Science tutor, a peer tutor in English and a member of the Key Society. I spent a lot of time in the Social Science Resource Room when I was at Vanier."

Going from high school to Cegep was easy for me

"I found the transition from high school to Cegep easy. I know it's not the same for everyone, but I was ready. What surprised me most was how much it resembled high school. In the beginning it feels very different but by the end I found it similar."

The moment I come through the front doors of Vanier it feels good.

"But I have a good feeling coming back here to visit. The moment I came in the front door it felt good. College is a perfect intermediary step before university. You can get involved, you can take chances. You can try things."

Join a lot and participate

"New students should join in a lot and break out of their shell. Don't worry too much about grades – if you work hard, things will go well. Meet a lot of people. Take advantage of the open atmosphere here. And talk to teachers – they can give you good advice."