Writing Her Own Narrative : Sarah Munro’s CBU Story

Finding your voice as a writer is easier when you are surrounded by people who genuinely want to see you succeed. For Sydney’s Sarah Munro that meant immersing herself in a deeply supportive community right at home. Now as she prepares to graduate from Cape Breton University with a Bachelor of Arts, Honours degree in English, Sarah sees a whole new realm of possibilities for where the written word could take her.

“Studying at CBU has absolutely fostered my creativity,” Sarah says. “I’m incredibly fortunate to have attended a university where both professors and peers are so supportive of creative work. I was so inspired by the incredibly creative and passionate people you meet every day at CBU.”

This community enthusiasm provided the crucial momentum she needed to share her voice and hone her craft.

“When you tell someone at CBU that you’re a writer, the first thing they usually ask is, ‘So, when do I get to read your work?’ That kind of enthusiasm and support makes a huge difference,” Sarah says. “CBU has such a rich creative community and being surrounded by people who are excited about art, literature, theatre and storytelling really helped foster my creativity and gave me the confidence to keep pursuing it.”

Expanding Horizons

While her roots are local, Sarah’s academic journey provided opportunities for profound global awareness. She had the opportunity to participate in a university trip to Poland during the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an experience that challenged her worldview both culturally and emotionally.

“Travelling to Poland was an incredibly informative and eye-opening experience, but it was also very emotionally difficult at times,” Sarah reflects. “During our visit, we attended a memorial for Ukrainian soldiers and met with Ukrainian refugees who had fled to Poland to escape the war. Those experiences were deeply moving and really made me reflect on how fortunate I am to live in Canada, but also how sheltered I am.”

The trip also brought her to the CBRM’s sister city, Wałbrzych, expanding her understanding of community structures and international resilience.

“It’s a different experience reading about wars overseas in the newspaper as opposed to meeting with those whose lives have been affected by the war face-to-face,” she says. “At the same time, visiting the CBRM’s sister city, Wałbrzych, was incredibly enlightening both academically and culturally. I learned so much about urban planning, community development, political science and Eastern European culture firsthand.”

Mentorship and Major Milestones

Back on campus, Sarah leaned on the University’s English faculty to help turn her academic ambitions into tangible success. She credits Dr. Dana Mount, Dr. Tom Ue and Dr. Jonathan Doering with having an enormous impact on her journey through their teaching and mentorship. That endless support gave her the confidence to apply for highly competitive national funding for her postgraduate studies.

“I was so shocked and excited when I found out I had received a full SSHRC grant,” Sarah says. “When I submitted the application, I was cautiously optimistic because I knew how competitive the process was. I remember asking my professors for reference letters when I applied and they were incredibly supportive but also careful not to get my hopes up too much about receiving the full funding amount.”

The application was a resounding success, securing her a full $27,000 SSHRC Canada Graduate Research Scholarship-Master’s Program award to continue her education.

Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead

Looking back on her university career, Munro urges incoming students to be proactive in shaping their own experiences. She stresses that the faculty is there to help, provided students are willing to take that first step.

“Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way! CBU has so many opportunities for students to get involved beyond the classroom, whether it’s research, creative projects, student societies, conferences or campus jobs. If opportunities aren’t coming your way, go out and create them yourself,” Sarah says.

“Reach out to professors, ask questions, get involved and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. CBU is full of people who genuinely want students to succeed.”

Armed with her SSHRC grant, Munro is heading to McMaster University to pursue a Master’s degree focusing on Canadian literature and media studies. Her proposed research project will examine the role of surveillance in mockumentary sitcoms, with a specific focus on the Canadian series Nirvanna the Band the Show. Alongside her academic trajectory, her personal creative ambitions remain a top priority.

“I’m going to continue pursuing creative writing alongside my academic work. So long as I’m writing something, whether it’s creative or academic, I’m happy,” she shares. “Writing is the greatest joy in my life! I’d love to become a playwright or a novelist. My goal is to publish a major creative work before I’m thirty. I have eight years to pull it off!”

Congratulations to Sarah and the entire Spring 2026 graduating class!