Hello! My name is Jillian Downey, and I am going into my fourth year at Mount A! I am doing an honours in Chemistry and minor in Biochemistry.  

In my grade 12 year I found myself looking at Mount Allison as a potential school because my mom and grandmother both went in their undergrad. I went to an Open House and fell in love with the school!! I decided that I was going to go to MtA and live in Campbell Hall (an absolutely amazing residence 😉). All summer after my grade 12 year I was so nervous but also so excited to start! 

On my first day I met my roommate and we immediately clicked. It was so amazing having a roommate for the first couple weeks. She was an automatic best friend that I could always go to meal hall with or walk to class with. During O-week I made sure to attend as many events as possible so I could meet a lot of new people. Throughout the week I made some more friends through these events, that I am still best friends with today! By the time school started I was ready because of all the Orientation events that helped me prepare for what was coming. Throughout the year, I tried to get as involved as possible with the school and joined the swim team and many other groups and clubs. I would usually go to the library to study because I liked to keep my room as a place where I could just go to and relax. All my friends and I would always have suppers together at meal hall which made it such a fun place to be! 

My first year was one of the best years of my life but if I had some advice to give to students coming, it would be to get involved!! I know you probably have heard that already a million times, but it is so important! I also would say grades are not everything. First year can be a huge transition from high school so it may be a little difficult to get used to at first, however, everyone is going through it together. As long as you try your best in your classes, that’s all that matters. And lastly, HAVE FUN!!! 

Written by Jill Downey, a member of the Spirit subcommittee of Orientation. 

Photo from Orientation 2019, where Jill was a member of the Campbell Hall executive team.