Graduating students from Mt.A take a moment to reflect before crossing the stage in May
As graduation nears at Mt.A, students are starting to think back on the moments, big and small, that made their time on campus special. For some, it is the friendships they made. For others, it is the classes that pushed them, the quiet spots where they studied for hours, or the little experiences that helped them grow.
For Kingsley Ayiah, a Chemistry student, finishing university feels like a mix of relief and reflection.“Honestly, it feels like a relief,” he says with a smile. But he knows graduation is not really the end, but instead it is the start of something new. He says Mt.A taught him more than just what was in his textbooks. Learning to manage time, meet deadlines, and stay disciplined are lessons he will carry with him for life. Some of his funniest memories were not even about school. He laughs thinking about finally passing his drivers license test after several tries! Through it all, Ayiah highlights a chemistry professor who kept encouraging him and that support meant a lot. Ayiah would not describe himself as a party person, instead, he spent most of his time in the lab. “I’ve always been the chemistry guy,” he says. For him, the lab was exciting because of all the possibilities it offered. Being able to experiment and see chemistry in action made the long hours worth it. But it wasn’t just the big moments that mattered. Presentations, assignments piling up, and 11:59 p.m. deadlines taught him discipline. Looking back, he can see how much he has grown. “I feel like I’ve changed a lot,” he says. “I think I have what it takes to go wherever I want.”
For Jacinta Mordi, graduation feels like a weight lifted off her shoulders. “After years of assignments and exams, I’m ready to rest,” she laughs. She remembers her first year at Mt.A, when even getting around campus was confusing. “I used to use a map to go everywhere,” she describes. But over time, the campus that once felt overwhelming started to feel like home. One of her most special memories is from international orientation, where she met a friend who later went on to become her roommate for two years. That simple introduction turned into one of the most important friendships of her university life. Some of her favorite academic memories came from small classes, like her fourth-year sociology course which focused on refugee studies. “It felt more like a conversation than a class,” she says. Outside the classroom, her happiest memories are the nights spent with friends, celebrating birthdays, visiting friends in Windsor Hall, and hanging out in residence lounges.
Uche Ozoemena says graduation feels almost unreal. “It feels like the first day I came to Mount Allison was just yesterday,” she says. Her first international orientation week is a memory she will never forget, full of activities, new faces, and excitement. Not every moment was easy. Her first-year biochemistry class was so tough it made her change her major from biopsychology to psychology. “That class traumatized me,” she jokes. But it also helped her figure out what she really wanted to study in university. Uche says Mt.A helped her learn more about herself. Growing up in Nigeria, she often felt like she was living “in a box,” but university gave her the freedom to explore her interests and grow as a person. “I feel like I know myself more,” she reflects. Some of her favorite spots on campus, like a cozy classroom in Crabtree called M10 and a quiet library booth, helped her focus and reflect.
As graduation comes, Ayiah, Mordi, and Ozoemena know they will miss the structure of university life and the opportunities it offers; from internships and grants to simple campus services.Their time at Mt.A is full of memories, late-night studying, challenging classes, laughter, friendship, and personal growth. If they could give advice to new students, it would be simple: take advantage of what the university offers, explore your interests, and discover who you want to be.