The Fanshawe Experience: Cadie

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Cadie's Fanshawe Open House Experience

“When I started looking at colleges, I had no idea what I was looking for. I honestly hadn’t even thought about colleges. The idea that I need to not only pick what I want to do with my life, but the pathway to get me there was so overwhelming and confusing. Knowing I didn’t really know where to begin, my dad suggested we attend the Open House at Fanshawe and at the time I had no idea the doors that experience would open for me.

By attending my first Open House I met a professor in the Fitness and Health Promotion program who told me about the different hands-on experiences that you get as a student as well as the different areas of study. She also talked with me about the different pathways to continue my education, like how I could bridge my program to a university to complete a degree in a shorter amount of time in places like Guelph-Humber or England, and expand my job opportunities. When that conversation finished, I thought I had all the information I needed and would have an incredible College experience.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that only focusing on my academics during Open House, I missed learning about all of the services and experiences available to me as a student, this followed me into my first program. 

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As I was trying to figure out what to do at the end of my program, I volunteered to help at the Open House and ended up taking some time to explore new opportunities and pathways. It was at that Open House I learned about the Business Marketing program, that in two years would provide me with a number of additional hands-on opportunities as well as a co-op experience. There was also the option to continue my studies to the Advanced Business Administration Diploma or the Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree if I decided, but I didn’t need to make that decision immediately. This had me sold.  

While I wasn’t 100% sure if this was what I wanted, I knew that this route wouldn't be a waste of time and would complement my previous studies in Fitness and Health Promotion. I was smarter the second time around and after figuring out the academic, I went and explored everything else, just to know what was available to me as a student. I took the time to speak to all of the student services present at Open House to learn what was available beyond class. I used the following to investigate more, so that when I began my studies in September I could really make the most out of my experience. 

This is Possibility

I am now proud to say I’ve been part of the Board of Governors with the Fanshawe Student Union, participated in inSPIRE Mentorship, spent a semester abroad in France, worked on campus in the Student Wellness Centre and Reputation and Brand Management, including 16 months of work relevant to my future career and so much more, which has given me one of the most amazing college experiences."

College is what you make of it. Your experience starts at Fanshawe Open House on March 29, 2025