Name: Nicole Cere
Hometown: Newmarket, Ontario
Current Town: Canmore, Alberta
Age: 22
Major and Year: Political Science, fourth and final year (WOHOOOO)
If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
Usually with my extra time I nap. But if I didn’t have to sleep I would probably try to go outside more. Living in such a beautiful place, there are so many things to do. I would probably go skiing more and go on hikes. I would also like to get more involved in my community with volunteering and such.
What fictional place would you most like to go?
It’s not so much fictional. I feel like most fictional places are rather intimidating, but the fictional movie Moana and the Islands that it is based around are somewhere I could spend my whole life. I visited the island of Kauai a year and a half ago to learn to surf for a month and I fell in love with the culture and lifestyle. I would do anything to go back.
If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you have a good chance at winning gold for?
Definitely napping/sleeping. Where can I get my medal?
What songs have you completely memorized?
Pretty much any song from the late ‘90s and early 2000s, and Disney songs. However, if I am to pick my top one for a flawless karaoke performance it would be “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton.
Are you usually early or late?
I do try to be early. In my first year I studied theatre and we were told if you are not early you are late. But since I have switched programs I am usually right on time or 5-10 minutes late because I am looking for my ID or car keys.
What was the last photo you took?
A screenshot of my mom saying “Top of the morning to ya’” on St. Patrick’s day.
What pets did you have while you were growing up?
I have had two real pets and many fish growing up. My first family dog was an Alaskan Malamute named Shylo, and a few years after she passed we got a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier named Kylee which they still have today.
What were some of the turning points in your life?
I think my first big turning point in my life was going to university. It really allowed me to develop into who I wanted to be and how I wanted to be perceived by others. I also learned a lot of life lessons. After that, the biggest turning point in my life has been quite recent and that has been my move out west. Having to grow up really fast and learning that life isn’t always easy and there are struggles has turned me into a super strong and independent person. A few months ago I was working at a hotel chain here and got let go. At the time I thought it was the worst thing that could ever happen to me. I had 48 hours to move my life out of my staff accommodation and find somewhere to go. That is a lot for a 22-year-old to handle. After my slight mental breakdown, I ended up putting my stuff in storage, booking a flight home and applying to jobs online. I told myself I would give myself 2 weeks of looking for a new job and if I didn’t get one then I would stay home. Two days into being home I got a job. It wasn’t a job I was super stoked for but it paid the bills and then a few weeks after that I got a job with the town and I have never been happier. It is crazy how some of the times in your life that you feel so helpless and low, really put into perspective what you want and are capable of. Getting let go was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
What do you want to be remembered for?
I want people to take what they want to from me. I hope that my writing resonates with people and that they are able to feel a connection and not feel alone in this massive world. I have had so many things happen to me thus far on my short time on earth and I hope I can make connections with people through those moments. It’s super cheesy but the song “Glorious” by Macklemore has a quote that I really like. It is “I heard you die twice, once when they bury you in the grave. And the second time is the last time that somebody mentions your name. So when I leave here on this earth, did I take more than I gave?”
Which fictional character would be the most boring to meet in real life?
Squidward. Need I say more?
What are some red flags to watch out for in daily life?
Don’t eat the yellow snow. And don’t go into the candy man’s van.
We’re really happy to have someone as courageous and insightful as Nicole on our team! If you or someone you know would like to join the Her Campus team, apply online to learn more about how you can get involved.
All photos courtesy of Nicole Cere.