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An opportunity of a lifetime. That鈥檚 what Gillian Grant was looking for when she applied to Fulbright Canada鈥檚 Killam Fellowship Program. Grant, a fourth year business student majoring in accounting, is spending the semester on exchange at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. 

Fulbright Canada鈥檚 Killam Fellowship Program provides a unique opportunity for students to travel to a partnering university in the United States and study there for either a semester or full year. This is one of the reasons Grant decided to apply. 鈥淚 thought it was a really unique opportunity, and I didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 have a chance like this to study in the states otherwise,鈥� says Grant. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to learn about new cultures, and new ways of approaching education.鈥�  

It didn鈥檛 hurt that her roommate at the time was last year鈥檚 Acadia Killam Fellow, Abbey Friars. 鈥淢y roommate last year was a Killam Fellow. She studied at the University of Maine and loved it so much she decided to transfer there,鈥� says Grant. 鈥淪he convinced me to apply and I鈥檓 so glad I did. I鈥檝e met so many new people and experience new things and learned a lot about what I want to do afterwards.鈥�  

Grant chose Clemson partially because of location and partially to gain an educational experience completely different than the one she receives at Acadia. 鈥淚 picked Clemson because of its location. I wanted to be in the Southeastern United States. It鈥檚 near a lot of big cities, so there鈥檚 a lot of places I can travel while I鈥檓 at Clemson,鈥� says Grant. Adding, 鈥淚 was interested in going to a big school. I wanted to do something different than what I鈥檇 done at Acadia.鈥�

And different it is. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been wonderful so far. It鈥檚 very different than expected, but it鈥檚 been good,鈥� she says. Clemson鈥檚 student population of 23,000 is six times bigger than that of Acadia. Grant says some of her classes have 700 students in them.  鈥淲alking into a class with 700 students is so overwhelming. It makes you realize you really are just a number,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e never felt that at Acadia.鈥� 

Coming on this exchange extended Grant鈥檚 degree by a semester. However, she鈥檚 thankful for the opportunity it鈥檚 provided her. 鈥淭he classes I need to graduate I have to take at Acadia, so I鈥檓 taking classes like History of Country Music, History of Religion in the United States, Human Sexual Behavior and Landscape Architecture,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e so different than what I studied at Acadia, but they鈥檙e really giving me a better understanding of American culture and southern society and their values. I鈥檓 really grateful that I鈥檓 not taking business courses because I鈥檓 taking special interest courses that allow me to learn more about the people I鈥檓 surrounded by.鈥�  

The courses she says have helped shape what she wants to do in the future. 鈥淚 took these classes because I was interested in them, but now I realize they might shape the course I take once I graduate,鈥� Grant says. Originally wanting to pursue a career as an accountant, Grant says she is now thinking about a career in tax law and policy that focuses on marginalized people, 鈥淏eing here has really opened my mind up to pursuing a more global career.鈥� 

While Grant is thankful for the different learning environment, she is also excited about the social atmosphere. 鈥淚 was incredibly excited to come to Clemson because of their Football program,鈥� she says. 鈥淔ootball here is like homecoming at Acadia but 10 times bigger and its every other Saturday. The whole town shuts down on those days. You can get in to town but you can鈥檛 leave. All of the roads are closed.鈥� 

Aside from watching football, Grant has joined a number of different clubs on campus including rowing, tennis, and the recreational sailing team. 鈥淣ot being in an environment where I study all the time, I can take that time to go hit a few balls on the tennis court or go sailing on a Sunday afternoon,鈥� she says.