Courtney Carnahan

In 2009, I began a 4 year Baccalaureate program at Dalhousie University with an undeclared major. As my first year came to a close in April of 2010, I chose to pursue a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Psychology & French.

The decision to pursue a Major in French was dually motivated. Coming from a bilingual family, with proud Francophone Grandparents, I was the only one of eight grandchildren who could still converse with them in French and I sought to improve my French abilities. In addition, as an aspiring elementary school teacher, I knew that a mastery of the French language would open greater opportunities and help distinguish me within a highly competitive labor market.

My experience in Dalhousie’s French program was an incredibly positive and rewarding one. The size of the program lent itself to an intrinsically close-knit experience. The professors knew all members of the program and thus were able to cater to our varying levels of proficiency, adapting where possible and offering supplementary assistance when needed.

In my fourth year, my post-graduate aspirations shifted. Rather than pursuing a Bachelor of Education as planned, I chose to apply for Dalhousie’s Master of Business Administration program. In doing so, my former French professors proved to be invaluable references and I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the program. I’ve since graduated and am now working for a global apparel & home retailer.

Looking back, I could not be more pleased with the decision I made in April of 2010. I had a fantastic experience, built lasting relationships, and most importantly, gained a mastery in the French language that has afforded me countless opportunities for growth and advancement.