Testimonials

Some of the most helpful information someone can receive is directly from another person. Conestoga has many students and each student has their own story. Having the chance to read or share a story can be the most helpful, constructive, and life changing experience.

“Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact.” — Robert McKee

Eric Jackson 
Broadcast Television Student
CSI Self Serve Desk Staff
Founding Member of Conestoga Glee

I am currently attending Conestoga College for Broadcast Television with some of the greatest and most accepting people I have met in my entire life. The media personnel and all the staff involved in this program have made the experience a true pleasure so far and have really boosted my confidence to start my career in television. I can truthfully say that Conestoga has surpassed my expectations of how smooth college would be for me.

As a GLBT student leaving high school, I had some great memories and some scarring experiences. I was fortunate to grow up in a tight knit community with minor bumps in the road throughout my years of figuring out my sexuality. I left high school though worried that those minor bumps could become much bigger as I transitioned into classes with people I had never met before, and a school with ten times the students I had ever walked down the hall with.

The first time I walked through the doors of Doon Campus I could see these worries had absolutely no realistic form in this building. I also realized, people don’t walk down the hallway thinking “Okay, let’s pick out these freaks and give em’ a real hard time!” The atmosphere of the building is very friendly and inviting, all the faculty, even those you don’t know, take the second to smile at you if you catch their eye down the halls. People aren’t afraid to approach others to ask for help when they are lost, and the walls are plastered with posters for places that everyone of every gender, race, religion and sexual orientation can go to enjoy themselves and others with similar lives.

Basically what I have come to realize about my sexuality is that I am who I am, this is how I have always been and I cannot change it and would never want to even if I could. It is a defining part of me as an individual and something I am proud of.

The thing that really helped me the most was just doing my best to be outgoing and treat everyone equally, thus letting people get to know me as the true person I am instead of sticking me with a label right off the bat. Also getting to know other people within the Conestoga Community that were involved with the Respect Rep team and Conestoga Pride to learn more about how to help others active in our college family was really helpful.

I was lucky to come out into a group of very accepting people. My mother and step dad welcomed it with open arms, and my friends all gave me the strength I needed to be myself openly in public. I do still get nervous in public with my boyfriend, mostly because you never know the actions of those around you, but at the same time I know for every bully out there I have three friends who will back me up.

My advice to others is to be yourself, right from the start. None of that holding back and waiting to see how others around you act, show who you are from the start and show them how fun you are and how unique you are! And above all, remember, this is College now, we are all adults here and it shows through our mature words and actions.

Jamie Herrington
Law and Security Administration Student
Conestoga Pride - Past Vice President

For the past year, I have been a student at Conestoga College studying in the Law and Security Administration program. Some of my biggest fears moving to Kitchener from a small town city were not only that I am an aboriginal student, but also that I am a gay student. Having the opportunity to pursue my dreams and to continue schooling is every kid’s goal. But being able to do it on my own, live on my own, be able to buy my own groceries, keep up with all the homework and still be able to participate in those extra-curricular activities can be a lot to handle on top of the world knowing that you’re a lesbian as well.

Although starting college was a big step for me, Conestoga’s community made everything feel so comfortable and accepting. The school provided services and events to help other people like me to meet other who share the same feelings with not only starting school but those who have fears of being who they are. The GLBTQ events that were held were a wonderful way to meet all kinds of people where we could share our experiences and create friendships.

Knowing that there were others who felt the same way as me made me feel more accepted to Conestoga’s community. Something as little as sexual orientation only makes up a part of person--it doesn’t make them who they are or what they should be defined as. For the thousands of students who attend the college, there is one fact about each and every one of us that adds to our character, whether it be about race, colour, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation. We all come in different shapes and sizes and we should be treated the same no matter what.

For that past year I must say, that taking that big step to go off to school helped me grow up a lot and thanks to Conestoga, the experience of just being able to go to class without having to worry about myself couldn’t have been any greater. I encourage any student who’s looking at attending Conestoga in the future to seriously consider it. It’s a place that’ll change your life and leave you with nothing but success.

Note: If you would like to share a testimonial about your experience at Conestoga please contact Ryan Connell, Student Life Programmer.