Abigail Hysop
What education have you taken?
I completed High School through the Manitoba Homeschooling system and Grade 7 Piano through the Royal Conservatory of Music. I also have a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language from Oxford Seminars. Because I did not use Manitoba curriculum to complete high school, I was admitted into Brandon University through the Success 1 Program and began an Arts degree.
What accomplishments are you proud of?
I am the grateful recipient of multiple scholarships and awards that have assisted my continuing attendance at BU and am pleased to have been entered in the Dean’s List and the President’s Honour Society for three years successively. During the last school year, I was honoured to receive the Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Research Excellence in English for my work.
Give a brief bio about yourself/ your background/ your history
I am the youngest of four siblings and have lived near Brandon for most of my life. Our parents homeschooled all of us through Grade 12, imparting the skills and experience that accompany being a registered nurse and a teacher of building construction. After completing High School at age 17, I worked for a year before deciding to attend university. I am an active volunteer at the church I attend, maintaining my practice of music by playing piano and singing in choir. I have travelled in the British Isles and the Mediterranean and plan to see more of the infinitely varied world we live in.
How did you become interested in your field of study?
I’d like to say that interest in my field of study began when I learned to read and write. I have written stories since I was eight and began reading classic literature by the likes of Charles Dickens and Sir Walter Scott in my teenage years. I fell in love with words and the English language, hence my decision to pursue an English major. My background in music instilled an interest in music history, which informed the choice of Music Arts for my minor.
What is your philosophy in life?
I think I am a little young to have a definitive life philosophy. However, at a pinch, these words by Oscar Wilde come to mind as applicable: “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”
Where do you see yourself in the future?
Following that maxim, once I complete my Arts degree, God-willing in June 2020, I hope to continue on to a master’s program and eventually perhaps pursue a doctorate. I have an ongoing interest in writing fiction and my dream is to become a published author. However, if I could somehow find a way to make a living reading books, I would be just as happy with that.
Nominator’s Comments:
Abigail Hysop ought to be honoured as an exceptional female student. She is in the final year of an Honours English degree, during which time she has distinguished herself both inside and outside the classroom. Her academic work is at the highest standards, having placed her on both the Dean’s Honour List and the President’s Honour Society for 3 years in a row. She also presented a paper at the 2018 Northern Plains Conference on Early British Literature and completed a TESOL certification.
Her skills have been recognized in her employment with the John E. Robbins Library and as a Research Assistant for Dr. Smid of the Department of English and Creative Writing. Outside of Brandon University, she has contributed to the community with 5 years of volunteering at Faith Fellowship Baptist Church in the Awana Club (doing office work and leading games for Grades 7-12), at Shilo Community Library, and at WCBF Youth Camp in Alberta as a counsellor.