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*This interview was conducted during the winter 2020 term

My name is Megan James, I am a second-year student in a Bachelor of Arts, planning to major in English with a minor in French. I am from Enfield, Nova Scotia.

What led you to choose your major(s)?
I always preferred English classes and knew that this was the subject I am most interested in.

Are you studying what you thought you would be when you were a grade 12 student? If not, what influenced the change?
When I was in grade 12, I was accepted at Acadia University for a Bachelor of Science, in Physics. I decided that physics was not for me and neither was Acadia. When I started at Dal I thought I would major in History, but this year I decided to go with English.

What has been your favorite class and why?My favourite class has been History of the Future because it was different from any class I had taken before. I love history and this class kept me engaged all term. The professor is also why the class was so much fun. He was always happy to be in class and wanted students to be interested, this makes a big difference for me.

Can you describe a memorable experiential learning experience?听
My most memorable university experience is when I went to St. Pierre and Miquelon last April. I was out of my comfort zone for 3 weeks and it was amazing. During my time in St. Pierre, I improved my French and gained confidence in speaking my second language. My father is originally from St. Pierre and has not been to the island for about 40 years. While on the island I got to meet tons of my family members for the first time. It was a great experience and I strongly recommend it to everyone.

What are you involved in outside the classroom?
I work at my community pool teaching swimming lessons and lifeguarding. Most of my free time is spent watching TV with my dog or reading.

What鈥檚 been one of your favorite hands-on learning experiences?
My favourite hands-on learning experience was my trip to St. Pierre. I have never had so much fun learning. Every day was exciting and pushed me out of my comfort zone (in a good way).

What are some strategies you employ to balance your studies with other parts of your life?
My most reliable strategy for staying organized and having a balanced life is scheduling. In my room, I have a giant dry-erase calendar where I can organize my entire semester. It really helps me to physically see my schedule so I can plan when I want to work on certain assignments. It is also very important for me to take breaks when I study. Breaks, every so often make studying easier because it gives me a chance to relax and recharge.

Advice for Students:

Is there anything you wish you鈥檇 known as a grade 12 student?
In high school my teachers tried to scare us about how strict and tough university is. Before starting at Dal, I was worried that I didn鈥檛 have what it takes to be a university student. In grade 12, I would have liked to know that university is not impossible. University is a challenge, but it is one that can be accomplished.

If you can put yourself in the shoes of these students, coming closer to the end of their high school career, what is one piece of advice you would like to pass on to them?
My advice would be to study something that interests you. It鈥檚 not worth studying something that you hate just because it sounds cool or you think it will get you a better job.