Meet A Loyalist Student
MATTHEW
Radio Broadcasting, First Year
Hometown
Petawawa, ON
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Hanging out with friends in my dorm room. I play around with my bass guitar and draw frequently.
Extracurricular Activities/How are you involved on campus?
I'm a Student Leader for Media Studies and I'm also on the Board of Directors for 91X as Treasurer.
My favourite things about Loyalist
I love a lot about the College. I love Residence because it gave me my first taste of independence away from my parents. I also love the school radio station.
My Orientation experience
I liked how I felt so mature coming to College so I was so excited that week. It was so nice to meet new people and make friends so easily.
My favourite place to hang out on campus
My dorm because I can be alone if I need to or bring a couple of friends to make pizza...or order it and watch movies or listen to music, I mean the radio. I also love to hang out in the Shark Tank Pub, every morning I would walk in and all my radio classmates would be there already, it was like the unofficial - official radio student hang out in the morning.
Why I enjoy living in Residence?
It is sooo close to the school, if I'm feeling down or having a bad day and I don't want to linger between classes I can just go home, or I can stay as long as I want without worrying about missing the bus.
Why I chose Loyalist/program?
Its so cozy. Small class sizes and everyone knows everyone. It's like a small town almost. I love it. I chose my program because I love music! I have a job that has the possibility of listening to music for an extended period of time daily.
My favourite Loyalist professor
Sandi Ramsay, she is such a sweet lady and she is always so happy, she tends to cheer anyone up and she makes the learning environment very positive. She goes non-stop to make sure we (her students) get as much help as she can give. She is sort of like having a big sister around.
My favourite Loyalist class/Most interest class taken so far
Radio Sales, I thought I'd want to do script writing as a major next year but I have gotten to see all sides of radio in all the classes and I found sales stood out for me. I really feel passionate for that aspect of Radio. I'm excited for next year when I can specialize and get going more into it.
My favourite Loyalist service
The Aboriginal Centre would be my favourite because everyone down there is so nice and they have computers and printers down there so if you don't want to sit in the crowded Student Access Lab (SAL), you can sneak down there and print off your homework.
My favourite pub night
HALLOWEEN! None were better; everyone was dancing and having a great time and so many interesting costumes. People had a good giggle and it was all in good fun. Yes Halloween was for sure!
What advice do you have to offer students on staying balanced between their academic responsibilities and social life?
Academics are more important, that is why you're coming to college, you're going into the working world soon and no one is going to catch you if you fall. It's very liberating to be given the ability to rise to the challenge. It seems scary but trust me, its natural instinct and although it's a lot of responsibility, responsibility can be enjoyable. Just trust me on this one.
Why I recommend Loyalist to other students?
It's just awesome, I've never been happier at school then this past year. It is a life experience.
My post-graduate plans
I love radio but I still think I want to be a psychiatrist at heart so I will probably be applying to Guelph for Biology or a Math program and going from there. Hoping that I can maybe work for a radio station at the same part time as I'm going. If not, I might come back here using my radio sales savvy and take Print Journalism and go into a career in the magazine industry or take Public Relations and pursue a job at a radio station. If I stay in radio, I want to hopefully work at Virgin Radio in Ottawa (106.9 formerly "The Bear") where one of my radio heroes Dylan Black worked.