Meet the positive and motivating Taylor Belanco!! We need more people like this Celeb on campus!
Age: 19
Program: BMOS, specialized in Finance.
Hometown: Brantford, Ontario
Relationship Status: Happily dating my best friend.
Tell me about yourself:
I love to read, meditate, kiss my dog, and volunteer.
Who is your role model?
My role model is Malala Yousafzai. She is an inspiration for gender equality and youth worldwide. Knowing that at age 11, she gave a speech and spread awareness of how the Taliban threatened to deny female education. This in turn made her a target of the Taliban, and at the age of 15 she was shot in the left side of the head while on a bus. Looking at all she continues to accomplish encourages me to stand up for others and what I believe in despite my age.
What is your favourite song right now?
My favourite song right now is “I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” sung by Amy Winehouse. It’s that time of year again, and I have always been a fan of Amy’s music. Her voice has such a passion and truth to it that turns music into a captivating experience.
Do you have any mottos that you live by?
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment” – Buddha. This quote explains my motto of living in the moment. I’m talking about focusing on how I am living and feeling at each moment. From experience and hearsay, I find those who look forward to their future often overlook all the opportunities and great moments in their present life. On the other hand, those who are wrapped up in their memories or mistakes are too overflown with guilt or longing to focus on what is amazing in the present. I let go of the mistakes I’ve made in the past and don’t have my mind set in the future, all my focus is on what I am currently experiencing.
What do you like about BMOS?
I like to learn about the processes from a small-scale company to the large-scale functionality of international economic markets. It is fascinating to me how everything works together within the global economy!
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I’m not quite sure yet. Whatever I am doing, I plan on putting my happiness first. Right now, I’m studying what interests me and what makes me happy. All I know is that I’m headed in the right direction, and I believe that is all you can really hope for in university.
Have you had any classes/ professors at Western that made an impact on you?
My “Understanding Literature Today” professor, Jonathon Boulter, made an impact on me throughout my first year. It was my first time away from home and out of the comfort zone of high school. Over the year, I found myself looking differently at books I was reading and had previously read. He teaches with such a passion for the novels on the reading list, and a curious mind that is constantly prying at secrets hidden in a text. It was a big change for me to go from recycled slideshow presentations in high school to an English professor who had read the texts himself countless times and lectured from memory. It kept me interested in the course and showed me what it means for a teacher to truly love their job.
Do have any guilty pleasures?
I love to binge watch Netflix series! It is easier to keep up with the story line when you watch it all at once. It does conflict with my homework schedule, but there’s nothing better than vegging with some tea & hours worth of Friends.
What’s your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
I love to read in my spare time. It is transportation from current situation, similar to a mini-vacation. I love to learn about experiences either in fiction or non-fiction.
What superpower would you have if you could pick any super power?
I would like the power to be able to freeze time. There is so much in life that I would like to experience and places I would love to see. If I could freeze time, I feel I could live in a happy moment or walk around the world to see all I could possibly see. Plus, I would never be late for anything!