Shannon Bence is a successful applicant of the SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship. She applied for this award while in her final year of the Tourism Management Degree program at VIU and is now completing the Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management, held at VIU as well. “Undergoing this process was extremely challenging but with the help and support of my professors and classmates I was able to complete my application and develop a concrete research proposal. Completing this application really challenged the skills I gained during my undergrad; it was like the ultimate test to see if I truly understood all the lessons I was taught and tested me to see if I was truly listening! I utilized the skills I gained from my advanced research methods course, community and rural development, as well as Aboriginal tourism, strategic leadership and advance research design, to name a few. It was nerve-racking to trust myself that I actually had the skill set I needed to complete this application successfully but with the confidence I gained from my work-op experiences, as well as the unconditional support from the Recreation and Tourism department, I built up momentum and confidence to really go for it. Being a successful recipient of this award allowed me to travel to the 2012 World Leisure Congress in Rimini, Italy where I was able to present about my thesis topic which is examining the perspectives of young adults on existing rural retention strategies, located in Western Canada. This experience allowed me to refine my research concept and gain a global perspective on my topic. This was such as great experience to help me strengthen my research concept and allowed me to gain helpful tips and pointers from researchers and practitioners from all around the world! It was so neat to be able to travel with my professors, two of my classmates, and the Dean of my Faculty and for them to really help me solidify my research concept; it was such an amazing experience! Undergoing the process of applying for and receiving the SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship has been an amazing life changing experience. I am so grateful and appreciative of the unbelievable financial support and the confidence I have gained from this process, and especially for all those who helped and assisted me throughout this process, thank-you doesn't come close to communicating the appreciation I have for all of you! Thank for the unconditional support! Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!!!”
