Keyshawn Bonamy didn't want to attend a school where he would be seen as "just a number" to his professors. Prior to moving from the Bahamas, he had heard about the University of Prince Edward Island from a brochure. There's a lot of recruitment from Canadian Universities, but UPEI especially stood out to Keyshawn because of its close-knit nature. He knew that because of its smaller class sizes and welcoming environment, UPEI would offer that one-on-one learning experience.
Four years later, Keyshawn doesn't regret his decision to attend UPEI.
Keyshawn is studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, where the courses required are incredibly diverse. "When people think of economics, they usually think of math—and yes, there is math—but Econ is a social science, and the BA reflects that," he says.
He took courses from basic macro- and microeconomics, to economic issues of the developing world and even the economics of sports. The wide range of courses available keeps the program incredibly interesting for Keyshawn and other students.
A big challenge for Keyshawn was the adjustment period in moving away for school. "A lot of students going off to school for the first time are going to feel out of their element. Things that might have seemed easy at first, now require a bit more effort. But I would say that UPEI certainly helps with that, and there are services offered that make that transition easier," he explains.
Keyshawn has been exposed to a plethora of experiences that allowed him to apply real life skills in the field, where he previously only had theoretical knowledge. The wide array of economics-related topics made Keyshawn realize the full potential of the discipline.
"The more rewarding part of the program to me was the reaffirmation that I had made the right choice in choosing this program," he says. "Despite the external perception of economics being dry or boring, I realized that it was a truly vibrant field."
Keyshawn says with certainty that he envisions himself in an economics- related role in the future.
"The door of opportunity is wide open," he says, referencing his friends from past graduating years who have gone on to work in education, private sectors for banks, or have gone off to graduate school.
Keyshawn will be taking the LSAT next year, and will go onto law school the year after. Despite his deep passion for economics, it's not even about the degree for him, but rather the skills he gained from it.
Economics has helped Keyshawn's critical thinking, examination and investigation. He encourages others to enroll for the breadth of opportunities available after completing the program, where the information is transferable to any field: business, sports or even fashion.
