Carissa Taylor

What education have you taken?

I graduated high school in 2009 and I am currently in my fourth year of an honours degree with a major in English and minors in philosophy and theatre.

What accomplishments are you proud of?

Throughout my time at Brandon University, I have received a Board of Governors Entrance Scholarship, the John Odin Scholarship, and the Edith Burchill Stoll Scholarship.  In high school, I received a citizenship award that was particularly meaningful as it was awarded based on how I treat people rather than purely based on academic merit.

I am proud of my work as BUSU President this year.  I feel that our council has been able to do things that have been beneficial to students.

Tell me about yourself/ your background/ your history.

I was born in Vancouver, BC, and moved to Winnipeg when I was three.  I lived there until I was 12, at which time I moved to Roblin, MB.  I graduated from there in 2009 and came to Brandon University immediately afterwards.

How did you become interested in your field of study?

I love communicating with people, so language is extremely important to me.  I have always loved reading, and I have developed a fondness for writing as I’ve grown older.   Theatre started out as something fun, but I’ve grown to recognize the very practical applications of it as well.  It has forced me to move outside of my comfort zone in ways that I am very grateful for.  I fell in love with philosophy in my first year of university, after taking a random intro class.  I’m interested in learning what brilliant minds think about the world and our reality.

What is your philosophy in life?

I try my best to love and respect those around me.  I want people’s lives to be better with me in it than without and to give more than I take.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

I have no idea what I will end up doing with my life.  I will likely continue my education in some way, but I don’t have any solid goal.  I am learning and growing, but I have yet to find the passion that drives me toward some end.

Nominator’s Comments

Carissa Rose Taylor, President of the Brandon University Students Union, is an Arts student with English, Philosophy, and Drama as her subject areas.  She has served Brandon University on BUSU for two years including this last year as its leader.  As such she represents not only the students but the entire university community both locally and nationally.  As President her time is taken up by many responsibilities in campus governance organizations and committees.  She is not a stranger to controversy and during her tenure she has maintained the strength to make choices that she believes to be right regardless of the vehemence, volume and vitriol of her critics.  She is by definition and nature a leader.  She is an exceptional woman.  Her qualities of strength, focus and commitment to a democratic sense of fairness and the basic tenets of human rights make her an example for the entire university.