McCall Scholarships: Addison Thibeault won't be scaling things back
BY SCOTT STEPHENSON
McCall Scholarship recipient Addison Thibeault may be leaving Huron County for Oshawa’s Durham College in the fall, but she has no plans to scale back the scope of her mission to help just because she’s entering uncharted waters.
Before graduating from South Huron District High School, Thibeault made quite a name for herself as one of Exeter’s most dynamic young social activists. From student government and mental health initiatives to prom fundraisers and pizza parties, she’s spent four years improving day-to-day life at her school by making the student experience more inclusive and welcoming for everybody.
And if that’s not impressive enough of a resume, outside of school, Thibeault has volunteered with the South Huron Optimist Club, and actively participated in a number of community sports clubs over the years, including golf and pickleball.
In her estimation, pursuing a career as an Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapist Assistant at Durham College is the natural extension of Thibeault’s inherent impulse to improve the overall well-being of the people around her. “I've always been really, really interested in health and helping people, so I like the idea of this kind of job,” she told The Citizen. “I want to help people and make a difference in their life, and I think that one of Canada’s most daunting challenges is some people’s lack of access to healthcare.”
While Thibeault was clearly more than qualified to contend for a coveted McCall Scholarship, she was still shocked when she heard the good news. “I was speechless for a few minutes,” she admitted. “But I was really excited that all my hard work during high school had been recognized. It just felt really good in the moment… and now, too, obviously! It means a lot to me, because it shows me that I did more than just keep my grades up. I participated in school activities, I put a lot of effort into clubs, and being recognized really motivates me to keep getting involved!”
Thibeault was already planning to be an active asset to her campus community, but anticipates that the McCall Scholarship’s support will allow her to dive even deeper into the act of improving the lives of others. “It will definitely help with financial needs, but it also gives me an opportunity to be more involved in my school community,” she pointed out. “I think I want to join the residence council, and I’ve looked into a few clubs, but I’m not 100 per cent sure.”
Leaving her family and the close-knit community of Exeter for life in residence is going to be quite a big change for Thibeault. “It will be a challenge to step out of my comfort zone and become more independent,” she confessed. “I’ve always had my family around me, so it’ll definitely be tough to not have my mom and my brother be there all the time.”
Ever the community-builder, Thibeault has already connected with her soon-to-be roommate. “We met on the roommate portal for the school’s residence,” she explained. “She lives in London, and we have a lot in common!”
As Thibeault begins her post-secondary journey, she’s reminding herself to remind herself that it’s okay if any of her plans for change, as long as she’s doing something that makes her happy. “Don’t be afraid to try something new,” she advised. “Don’t feel like you need to have your whole life figured out right away. Just remember that everybody has their own path… you just need to go at your own pace.”