CamilleRadio Broadcasting, Second Year
HometownIroquois, ON
Highschool
Seaway District High School
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
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Listening to music
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Playing online games
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Spending time with loved ones
Something interesting about you...
I enjoy I can curl my tongue in three, and I have a mole in my iris.
Extracurricular Activities/How are you involved on campus?
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Residence Assistant
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Walk Safe Coordinator
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Campus Tours Volunteer
My favourite things about Loyalist College
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It's size. At many other colleges, I would be nothing more but another number. At Loyalist, I’m not just treated like a number, but an individual. Many of the staff/students know me on a first name basis, and it really makes me feel at home.
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I also like the Residence buildings. Sharing an apartment with 5 others can be difficult at times, but it has more up-sides than it does down. The Rez buildings are located really close to the school, which has been quite convenient over the course of the last couple of years. If I have ever had a break between classes and needed a bite to eat or a quick nap, home has been just a hop, skip, and a jump away. The Rez buildings are also very safe and secure, monitored by surveillance cameras 24/7, and also cleaned on a regular basis. Every resident has their own room with doors that lock, so any valuable possessions are kept safe, unlike at a lot of other residence locations.
My favourite things about Belleville
It's size. I’ve lived in Toronto and Ottawa, as well as the smallest towns imaginable, and Belleville is just a happy medium; not too big that it’s always a rat race, and not too small that nothing is ever going on.
My favourite place to hang out on campus
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My Residence room. If I am hungry, I’ve got drawers and a fridge full of food, and if I am tired I’ve got my bed there to take a nap. I’ve got access to my computer as well as all of my other possessions.
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91X Studio and Radio Broadcasting production rooms. Being on-air and producing commercials is just a whole lot of fun. Getting paid to have fun….even better!!
Why I enjoy living in Residence
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I really enjoy living in Residence mainly because of the convenience. I’m never more than a 5-10 minute walk to class, so if I happen to be running late for some reason, I don’t have to worry about waiting on a bus, or a cab, or traffic lights, etc.
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It’s also quite fun to live with other people. I’ve lived on my own for several years and it can get quite boring at times. There’s never a dull moment living in Rez.
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I also have instant access to free wireless internet, laundry facilities, inexpensive dinners from the “Procrastination Station” café should I not feel like cooking, a free shuttle bus service on Tuesday evenings into town to do groceries or visit the mall, use of the Residence BBQs….the list just goes on and on.
Why I enjoy working on campus
I enjoy working on campus because of the opportunity to make the college a better place. Working with my peers and fellow students is great because we all have something in common with one another. It’s also quite convenient working on campus and living in the college’s Residence buildings. I never have very far to go to get to work.
Why I enjoy getting involved with Student Government
I get to help make decisions based on all of the students at Loyalist College. Knowing and encouraging the fact that the students here really matter. Bringing forth students comments and concerns at meetings and having positive things done because of those comments and concerns, it would make anyone feel good about themselves. Being part of Student Government is a real confidence booster, as well as a really good way to actually make a positive difference for the college.
Experience being a leader through the eyes of previous Student Government member Camille
Why I chose Loyalist/What attracted you to your program?
The Radio Broadcasting program at Loyalist is very well known across the country among broadcasters. The faculty have worked in the industry for YEARS and have a great sense of the industry, and the knowhow to pass their knowledge on to the class.
Discover what Camille LOVES about his program
My favourite Loyalist professor
It’s tough to pick just one favourite professor. They are all so good, and have much respect for each and every one of them. However, if I was forced to pick the overall most well rounded individual I would have to pick John Henderson. I am very lucky to have had John as a teacher as he is retiring at the end of the year. John has had a deep impact on the lives of many students to have taken the Radio Broadcasting program, and you will often hear his name being used when it comes to people’s favourite teacher. He is a very funny man, with a great sense of humour, he knows how to get the attention of his class and keep it, and he’s always willing to help students out after class. John will be missed by many!
My favourite Loyalist class/Most interesting class taken so far
Steve Bolton’s Radio Production class in 3rd semester. Every week the class would be given an assignment to produce a commercial, usually 30 seconds in length. Sometimes we’d have to create station promos or PSAs. Writing, voicing, and producing commercials….and doing the entire process by yourself, and then coming out with a really good end result….it just feels really amazing! Getting feedback from Steve and then watching your progress as the course goes on, it really doesn’t get much better than that.
My Orientation experience
Orientation Week was hands down the best week of my life. It made me realize I was beginning a new chapter in my life, and it was a heck of a lot of fun too. All kinds of activities, and free food, and goody bags, Shark Tank Pub Nights with great bands. It was a life I wasn’t living before college, and a great transition week before formal classes began. A week I will never forget!!
Why I enjoy getting involved with Spirit Squad
Spirit Squad is a lot of fun. Handing out “cheer gear” and getting the crowd into cheering on our varsity sports teams is a real adrenaline rush. It gives you a sense of pride, and the athletes really like the support. There are prizes handed out to the crowd as well as spirit squad members to encourage participation. There are Spirit Squad pre-parties, to get people pepped up before the games begin. There are also bus trips to other schools to further show our support for our athletes by joining them at away games and cheering them on.
Find out the inside scoop on Loyalist’s Fan Club, from Spirit Squad member Camille
What advice do you have to offer students on staying balanced between their academic responsibilities and social life?
Balancing academic responsibilities and your social life can be one of the most difficult challenges in college. Staying organized is absolutely crucial to your success.
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I would strongly recommend using your day planner that the student government provides, or your own if you have one.
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Know your limits. If you feel like you are taking on too much and getting burned out or you need help with something, do something about it. There are so many people at the college that are here to help make sure the students succeed, including Student Success Mentors, Mental Health Nurses, and Financial Aid Advisors. Whatever your fear or problem may be, if you’re having difficulty facing it head on, don’t be afraid to use one of the many services the college offers. And the best part is, they’re all FREE!
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Understanding why you are going to college in the first place is a really good place to start. There will be many opportunities to go out to parties and spend money, and I am not saying that one shouldn’t go out and have fun once in a while, but understanding the main reason you spend money to go to college is a really good start. Everyone goes to college for an education, but with the many distractions surrounding your education, it can be difficult to remember why you came in the first place.
In short, stay organized, don’t over work yourself, and prioritize and your college years should be some of the best years of your life.
Why I recommend Loyalist to other students?
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It’s a small college compared to many other colleges, which is a good thing. Come now, before the good word gets out and it becomes just like the others.
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It’s really easy to get involved with student life, extracurricular activities, and on campus jobs because of the college’s size.
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The faculty and support staff at the college are great, the atmosphere is great, and the school is easy to navigate around without getting lost.
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The campus is beautiful and just on the outer limits of Belleville, so it’s not in the middle of downtown and it’s not in the middle of nowhere.
Is there one word (or phrase) that sums up your Loyalist experience?
SURREAL
Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Loyalist?
Getting on stage with the Sleddogs. They’re a band that was touring with XXX Hypnotist Tony Lee. They had me get up on stage with them and play bass guitar while the crowd at The Shark Tank Pub was going wild. I don’t even know how to play guitar, but nobody knew the difference. It was my first real taste of what it would be like to be in a band, and I loved it.
My post-graduate plans
I plan on working in the radio broadcasting industry. I’d like to host my on-air show and become a contributing member to the community I am working in. I believe I will have a positive impact on many peoples lives, and would love to one day be back at Loyalist College teaching in the Radio Broadcasting course.
photos: Jim Bradford, Nancy File & Corey Lablans