My CBU Story: Shemar Brown

Shemar Brown came to Cape Breton University with a straightforward plan. The psych major and basketball player from Toronto wanted a place to finish his Bachelor of Arts degree while continuing to play the game he loves. What he found was bigger than a box score, he found a community that backed his goals and a clear next step toward a career in helping others.

Psychology was always a point of interest to Shemar. He grew up curious about how the mind works, and how knowledge about it could support people in real, tangible ways. CBU gave him the space to test that interest and to focus. He describes learning to cut out distractions and commit to the work in front of him.

“CBU taught me how to be comfortable in my focus,” Shemar says. “Being that this is my second university, I felt there was no need for anything but to finish what I started: Get to graduation.”

Success through Support

That resolve was tested. Midway through a semester Shemar fractured his wrist in basketball practice. The injury derailed his ability to participate in an online course which in turn affected his progress in his program. It could have been an easy place for Shemar to quit, instead he asked for help. The plan Shemar built, alongside the Student Development Officer for Students of African Nova Scotian and African Canadian Descent, put him back on track.

“I withdrew from the course However it still appeared on my transcripts as a failed course. This brought my GPA down due to the fact that it was also a core course,” Shemar says. “That’s when I used the help of Academic Advising and more specifically Dionne Romard to help me find the best way to graduate.”

The support Shemar remembers most didn’t come from a single source or moment, it was a pattern. Coaches, staff, faculty and classmates checked in, kept him focused, pointed him to resources and kept him moving forward on his path. Shemar says he felt that same support beyond campus too.

“There were a lot of little moments where this CBU community embraced me and helped me on my journey to becoming a graduate,” Shemar says. “Cape Breton has such a welcoming community in the sense that if people see you working towards something they are likely to offer assistance.”

Looking Forward

Those experiences shaped Shemar’s sense of what could come next. Near the end of his studies, the question kept coming up: what kind of work would let him keep supporting people in meaningful ways? Conversations with Academic Advising led to information sessions on CBU’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program and meetings with people working in the field. To Shemar, the fit was obvious.

“I am planning on applying for the BSW program here at CBU,” Shemar says. “After I expressed my interest in counselling or giving back to the community, Social Work seemed like a natural fit for me.” 

Shemar thinks about his growth in quiet, practical terms. Psychology courses strengthened his ability to listen, analyse and communicate, while campus roles and team settings required him to develop as a leader and taught him the value of accountability. Setbacks called for patience, focus and planning, and at every turn he saw that growth pay off. The net effect is confidence rooted in practice and perseverance. He says, for future students who find themselves in his shoes, the most important things are not getting too comfortable and not losing sight of the bigger picture.

“Sometimes when you’re surrounded by everything you need – you realize it’s nothing you want,” he says. “When you realize this just remember to be grateful for it all.” 

For Shemar gratitude means acknowledging the people who opened doors for him, and the community that made it easier to keep showing up. Shemar arrived in Cape Breton looking for a place to finish strong – he leaves with his Bachelor of Arts (Psychology Major), a network that feels like a second home and a path toward a career in social work.

Congratulations to Shemar and the entire graduating class of Fall 2025