Posted on Friday March 29, 2019

Sue Duguay offers her tips to young graduates

New Brunswick is brimming with talented and inspiring personalities. Sue Duguay is a young 19-year-old New Brunswicker who is very active in her community. Here she shares a few of her tips with a group of twelfth-graders.

Who is Sue Duguay? For those who still don't know her, Sue began in 2013 as school representative with the Fédération des jeunes francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick (FJFNB), an organization for which she became president in 2016. That same year, she made the list of 30 jeunes de moins de 30 ans (30 youths under 30) to look out for in Acadie Nouvelle, and in september 2018, she was nominated president of the Fédération de la jeunesse canadienne-française (FJCF).

1. Organize a schedule in line with who you are

Sue is a young woman of habit with a full schedule. I just moved in so my place is in a bit of a mess! Other than that, I get up at the same time every morning. If I don't have any obligations, I respond to some email and then I do my homework. Most of the time I have classes, meetings or events in the afternoon and/or in the evening. I still make sure that I have one personal activity per day, often some meditation or sports. I also got into the habit of responding to another round of email and planning the next day before going to bed. Her method is simple: Set up a full schedule, including classes and study periods, but also leave room for some personal activities. I think we should plan our time in a way that resonates with us, and not just to optimize our productivity.

2. Plan your finances (make choices according to your life, your housing, transportation, etc.)

Talking about personal finance is not a popular topic when you're hanging out with friends. Especially when you're 20! It's important to put together a simple budget that takes into account your basic expenses. It helps to reduce stress. You also need to be informed on the different ways to finance your studies, such as all the types of student loans and bursaries available, but also income tax credits. Several possibilities are available for students. Find out more at your financial institution.

3. Choose a study program that you're passionate about

Some New Brunswickers choose to study outside of their city or even their province. For some, moving away from the family home can be difficult. I think you have to choose a program that you're passionate about, even if it's not offered in your city. You have to take ownership of your choices by accepting the fact that mistakes happen and that you may eventually change your mind. Leaving your family to go to school is necessarily more expensive than staying home. Talk it over with an advisor to properly plan this change in your life, even if it's just for a few years. You can always come back!

4. Volunteer (especially for your own growth)

Sue Duguay's commitment was recently rewarded with the Emerging Leader award for the Atlantic Region. For this young woman, doing volunteer work has been a revealing experience.

Committing to a cause allows you to see the world move in a positive direction and to gain confidence in your ability to change things. Before volunteering, I was a shy young girl, not very sure of myself. Giving has allowed me to free up my energy to become the person I really am. You have to choose a cause that is deeply meaningful to you and go for it. And it's good for people of all ages, not only young people!

5. Promote engagement, for an informed New Brunswick youth

Sue Duguay is working to bring the voting age to 16 in New Brunswick. I think that this measure, matched with a strengthened civics education, will form a more engaged population that is more politically and socially alert.

Sue Duguay's projects  

Sue recently spoke of her political ambitions during an interview broadcast on Huddle, where she was named one of the 8 young New Brunswick personalities to watch last summer.

Having a career in politics really interests me, but politics goes beyond the functions of the person elected. I will always be politically active, even if I'm not looking for a seat at the provincial or federal level. But I'm not ruling it out!