During my undergrad, several professors made the suggestion that I apply for TWU’s Laurentian Leadership Centre (LLC), to which I would laugh politely and tell them I would consider it. In truth, I never considered it seriously. I did not want to uproot my life for a semester. I was nervous around political controversy. I was skeptical of the program’s ability to make a difference. 

Yet as graduation crept closer, I faced rising anxiety about my professional experience—specifically my lack thereof—and was discouraged as job rejection letters rolled in. I applied to the LLC in reluctant desperation, and a few months later, found myself on a plane to Ottawa, lured eastward by the shiny promise of a guaranteed internship.

When I landed in Ottawa, I was still an LLC skeptic—but my mind changed over time. Here are three honest reasons to attend the LLC from a former skeptic.

1) Ottawa is the best Canadian city for internships. An Ottawa-based internship will give you unique benefits that you cannot get anywhere else in Canada. Interning in Ottawa—whether on Parliament Hill or elsewhere—will get you connected with professionals who are both willing and able to help you. I learned employable skills at my internship, of course, but I also rubbed shoulders with national leaders and professionals who opened doors for the job I have now. An Ottawa-based internship is unique because it will increase what you know while also multiplying who you know in our nation’s capital.

2) The LLC is not just for business and political studies students. Anyone can attend. The program is a 15-credit semester that includes three classes, designed specifically to satisfy some of the core requirements for any degree. Even better, LLC internships are worth six credits and can be fine-tuned to fit your interests. I studied English and interned at a magazine. My roommate studied art and interned at an art gallery. If you are wondering if the LLC can find you an internship in your area of interest, you might as well reach out and ask. The worst they can say is no.

3) Something amazing might happen. There are amazing opportunities around every corner for LLC students. In my LLC cohort alone, students were offered full-time employment, met with prime ministers, and embarked on all-expenses-covered trips (that they got credit for!). My internship graciously sent me on a travel journalism excursion to Los Cabos and helped me to land the job I have today. There is no telling what amazing experiences will turn up on your doorstep in Ottawa—why not take the chance?

By the time I was flying home, I had been converted to a staunch LLC supporter. My experience in Ottawa had flung open the doors of my once-small world. I felt equipped to make myself stand out in the job market. Even still, there are more upsides—living in a mansion downtown, access to a walkable neighbourhood, and proximity to world-class museums. If you are on the fence, take it from a former skeptic: do not miss your chance to attend the LLC.