Staying Home for University: A CBU Alumna’s Story [2min Read]

We know that deciding whether to attend university at home or away is a personal choice, based on many different factors. So, we spoke with Cape Breton University Alumna, Stacey Lee, to share her experience after choosing to study Biology at CBU, not far from where she grew up.

Stacey was happy on campus from day one. CBU’s Biology department made her feel right-at-home, which she says was an integral part of her university experience, “The department is so supportive and everyone is so willing to help you.”

While she enjoyed the comfort of staying home in Cape Breton for her studies, Stacey still made the most of her experience on campus. Aside from her time spent in the Biology department, she was a member of the Biology Society, a frosh leader who welcomed new students to campus, a volunteer in the Women’s Centre and an employee of the on-campus newspaper, Caper Times.

You can see that Stacey was a busy undergrad at CBU. But that didn’t stop her from finding one more way to enhance her experience! Stacey decided to spend a semester studying abroad in Ireland. And it was that semester when she truly started to appreciate her time at CBU. Stacey realized that while she had already completed two summer research grants, the peers she met while studying abroad hadn’t. When asked about this she said, “I really made a note not to take those opportunities for granted anymore. CBU provides so much for us that it just seemed normal.”  She continued, “We really get these amazing experiences that people at larger institutions don’t always get.” So, even though she chose to study at home, she gained so much from her experience studying abroad.

Now a member of the Alumni family, Stacey credits CBU with giving her the confidence to pursue a Master’s degree and eventually a PhD. As she continues with her research journey, Stacey knows that she can always reach out to her CBU professors for support along the way.

When asked if she had any advice for new or prospective CBU students, Stacey had this to say, “There are so many ways to get involved at CBU, which gives you the opportunity to get to know people and really enhances your university experience. You’ll be surprised how much you love it.”