Patrick O'Loan
IESP Student, 2025
| Degrees: | Bachelor of Economics Student |
“I chose to attend IESP because I knew two people who had previously attended the program and one person who worked with IESP, and they all spoke very positively about their experiences and recommended it. After taking a gap year, I was a little nervous about returning to school and becoming overwhelmed by the workload. The support offered through IESP, such as peer mentors, well-being sessions, academic guidance, and cultural workshops, made the transition much smoother. The program provided helpful guidance on organizing my schedule and classes, writing assignments, and especially managing stress.
One of my favourite parts of the program was the sense of community it created. Even though I still see former IESP students in the hallways at Carleton, I miss the cohort that I spent time with every day during the program. I had already been living in Ottawa before attending, but for students coming from communities outside the city, I think that sense of community and support would be even more valuable.
Overall, the IESP program played a significant role in helping me adjust to university life and guiding me toward pursuing my current program in Economics at Carleton. I’m very grateful for the support I received and would like to thank the IESP program and its staff for the guidance and encouragement they provided throughout the experience.”