Academic Success

Are you looking to improve your academic performance? This segment of the blog will have advice and workshop opportunities to help you with your academic experience at AC!

SeeHearSpeak charity campaign set to make some noise

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With every new semester brings a new batch of motivated, driven, and charitable Public Relations students here at Algonquin College looking to make a difference in their community.

This year, Algonquin College students have partnered with the schizophrenia program at The Royal Mental Health Centre.

The Royal is one of Canada’s foremost mental healthcare and academic health science centres. Their mandate is to get more people living with mental illness into recovery faster by delivering specialized mental healthcare, advocacy, research, and education.

Schizophrenia is an often misunderstood mental health illness. It can involve a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behaviour, leading to faulty perception.

Currently, there is no method for preventing schizophrenia and there is no cure. Minimizing the impact of the illness depends mainly on early diagnosis and, appropriate psycho-social treatment and medication. This year’s campaign, SeeHearSpeak, aims to change the conversation surrounding schizophrenia by raising funds and awareness.

ACPR (Algonquin College Public Relations) has been involved with charity campaigns for over 25 years and has raised over $300,000 for various local and national charities.

This year’s campaign, SeeHearSpeak, will run through the month of July. It will involve a variety of different events to raise money and awareness for the schizophrenia program at The Royal.

Follow along as our students share information and host a variety of charity events. They include a mimosa brunch here on campus, a stand-up comedy night, an art auction at The Red Lion, and much more. Let’s start a conversation together about this mental illness and help make a change!

Whether you have schizophrenia, know someone with schizophrenia, or want to learn something about schizophrenia you can check out the SeeHearSpeak website.

Meet your valedictorian: Brit O’Neill

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Brit O’Neill, Dental Hygiene

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Happiness to me is when you get to the point in your life when you are fully aware of who you are and where you fit in this crazy world and are completely comfortable with that person.

When and where were you happiest? I am my happiest when at home with my girlfriend and my puppy cuddled under s blanket on a rainy or snowy day.

Which talent would you most like to have? I really wish I could sing! It’s so awesome when people have a great voice and can just sing songs they love and not sound awful.

What is your current state of mind? I’m currently at a place where I am ambitious, determined, and excited.

What would you consider your greatest achievement? Competing as Team Ontario at the 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, women’s curling national championship.

What do you value most in your friends? Honesty, it’s my number one. I will always try my best to be unbiased and honest with my friends and need the same relationship back.

Where would you like to live? The dream is Vancouver, but i doubt I’ll be able to afford that in the near future!

What is your most treasured possession? My Scotties necklace I received from the Canadian Curling Association for competing at my Scotties.

Who is your favorite fictional hero(ine)? Harry Potter – selfless and an Incredible friend.

Who is your hero(ine) in real life? Paul Watson – head captain and founder of the Sea Shepherd.

What is your motto? Happiness is a choice.

Which words and/or phrases do you most overuse? “Absolutely” “oh, 100%!” “You got this”

Meet your valedictorian: Laura Burgham

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Laura Burgham, Hospitality and Tourism Management

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Being surrounded by my friends and family.

When and where were you happiest? When I was living out east last summer with my boyfriend.

Which talent would you most like to have? I would like to be able to do a cartwheel.

What is your current state of mind? Content and feeling at peace with everything.

What would you consider your greatest achievement? Obtaining a full-time career fresh out of school.

What do you value most in your friends? Their positive outlook on life

Where would you like to live? New Zealand or Cape Breton Island, only time will tell.

What is your most treasured possession? My pair of running shoes.

Who is your favorite fictional hero(ine)? N/A

Who is your hero(ine) in real life? My mom.

What is your motto? “Everything happens for a reason.”

Which words and/or phrases do you most overuse? Perfect, oh boy, I’m sorry, I completely understand.