Convocation: Celebrating your time at Bishop’s before the start of a new chapter

By Christina Lépine – Contributor

As we walk by the Bishop’s arches to enter the Quad after a well-deserved summer break, we all pass by the sign “Remember how you entered, be proud of how you leave”. Most students only fully understand the meaning of this sentence when Convocation comes, which closes the Bishop’s chapter.

Last June, I had the opportunity to work as an usher for Convocation, and where I truly understood the emotional step of graduating from Bishop’s University.

On June 2, graduating students gathered behind the red-roofed hangar beside Paterson to plant 23 trees for the Class of 2023. That same evening, graduates had the opportunity to dress up and celebrate their time at Bishop’s with their friends and family by attending the Chancellor’s Dinner at Centre de Foires de Sherbrooke. There, former Principal Michael Goldbloom congratulated the graduating class. Graduating students could watch a summary of their time at Bishop’s through a slideshow accompanied by musical numbers and the presentation of the recipients of honorary doctorates.

On June 3, the Business and Education Convocation ceremony took place at 10 a.m. and the Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities Convocation ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Students walked the stage in Denver Gym before the valedictorians’ speeches and the principal’s speech which closed these two emotional Convocation ceremonies. Geneviève Leclair, education graduate, and Nathalia Muñoz Gómez, natural sciences graduate, successfully completed the task of delivering heartfelt valedictorian speeches that moved the graduating class in both morning and afternoon ceremonies. Muñoz Gómez mentioned in her speech that “this campus is not the buildings or the trees or the grass. The life of this school is all of you, all of us and those who have set foot here”.

The weekend of celebrations ended just like any other for Gaiters in town with a very successful night at the Gait. Graduating and returning Bishop’s students joined the party until the time came for last goodbyes as “Closing Time” was blasting through the Gait’s speakers.

This Convocation weekend made me realize that time flies by really fast at Bishop’s, and all students should enjoy every opportunity and every experience as much as possible before graduation. As Victoria Perak, Golden Mitre Award and Julie Bradshaw Award recipient, once mentioned before graduating on June 3, “You don’t get to Lennoxvegas by accident”.

As this fall semester starts, remember to enjoy every bit of it and to take on any opportunity as you are here for a reason. You should truly be proud of your time at Bishop’s because you are the ones who make this school so special.