"Have you visited the school?" is a common question asked by those seeking college/university counselling and placement support. Being able to answer this question positively helps to assure a student and/or parent as well as to instill confidence in the advice provided. 
 
It is not possible to see every school in the world but as an advisor, it is important to have a high degree of familiarity with colleges and universities.  What is also important, is having some familiarity with the country of interest, its education system, people, culture and customs to ensure advising is comprehensive and holistic. 
 
Every year, I embark on my annual pilgrimage across different countries to visit and assess various institutions. Canada is one of the leading study destinations of choice among my students, therefore it is one of the countries high on our travel agenda. Here is a brief review of two of different institutions visited earlier this year during a trip across Canada.
 
Brescia University College  - 
Location: London, Ontario, Canada ( About an 3hr drive from Pearson Int'l)
Size: Small Campus, Easy to navigate and learn
Signature Program(s):  Food and Nutrition, Nutrition and Dietetics
 
My 3 shares:
Students have the opportunity to transfer into programs at the University of Western Ontario or can take courses at Western while studying at Brescia

• Brescia's Preliminary Year program  is co-ed and is a great option for students who may not qualify for a direct entry into a degree program 
  
• Modern and spacious dorms with great security features to ensure the safety of students

 
Marine Institute - Memorial University
Location: St. John's Newfoundland, Canada (2hr 40min Flight from Toronto)
Size Small Campus, Located in a residential area
Signature Program(s): Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, Ocean Technology
 
My 3 shares:

• Marine Institute is home to one of the world's three marine simulators
  
• Student attending the Marine Institute are still part of Memorial University and can access facilities and amenities
• Newfoundland's economy is built primarily around the ocean (Blue Economy) 

​The release of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination and the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate results across Barbados and other participating CARICOM Member States is a highly anticipated period during the summer holidays. Firstly, it marks the official end of summer for students (and educators) and secondly, students can now decide on their next steps. Be it, Sixth form, college, university, work or whether they have to go back to the drawing board.

​This time of the year is what I often term as bitter sweet! As much as I am excited for my students who are about to start their college/university lives, there is a tiny sense of sadness when it is time to say goodbye.  Recently, I said goodbye to our student intern, Darian, who will be commencing his studies at Humber College this September.  After working with Darian for a year, both as an intern and as a student, I had the distinct privilege of getting to know this remarkable young man, who has a passion for the field of business. 
 
For those that are going abroad, the months leading up to their departure can be a bit of a 'crazy' period, with all the steps that need to be taken before their arrival. From the time Darian accepted his unconditional offer from Humber College, the remaining months consisted of sorting out his finances in preparation for his tuition deposits and study permit application, applying for housing and registering for classes.

​The last day of secondary school was the best day of my life for many reasons.  I was elated to be moving on to the next stage of my life: adulthood. I was eagerly awaiting life as a young adult in a new country as a college student. Despite the excitement felt, I couldn't help but also feel a sigh of relief that I would never have to step foot through the hallways and classrooms I occupied for the last seven years. For the most part, my secondary school days were filled with positive experiences, where I enjoyed an active social calendar and celebrated great academic achievements. However, there were days where I faced challenges, which seemed somewhat insurmountable at the time. While some experiences could be categorised as teenage growing pains, there are those that had such an impact, where my vulnerabilities were exposed by persons whose sole intention was to cause harm.

A significant portion of an individual's lifetime is spent learning.  Whether learning is taking place in school, the workplace, church, family, friends or in our communities, the fact remains that knowledge is shared constantly throughout our lives. There is a widely held view that Education is life-long learning. This can be seen in some education systems across the world where the creation of knowledge bases and the exchange of information is continuous. Education can evolve as one grows and develops. It is critical to ensure that persons can access information to make informed decisions when it comes to the planning of their education and careers.  ​