Beta
Kendra Johnston
Name: Kendra Johnston
Nickname(s): Kends, Miss Johnston, Miss Kendra
Personal Pronouns: She/her
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Favourite thing about ConEd?: My favourite thing about Con-Ed is the family I have found within the department and especially within the class of 2025. Everyone was so excited to meet each other when we all arrived and it made the transition to university so much easier than expected. The whole department is one big support system that people are always there to cheer you on, which makes it so great!
Favourite first-year class?: My favourite first-year class has to be a tie between DRAM 100 and FILM 110. I got blessed with amazing TA’s for each course that have made the content so interesting to dissect and learn. When it comes to DRAM 100, the labs have to be my favourite part of the course and I got blessed with the opportunity to have mine at the gorgeous Isabel Bader for first semester which is right by the water. Being in an actual performance space enhanced my experience in the course so much and my TA and lab group made it an overall great experience. In regards to FILM 110, the content is so interesting to learn and the profs and TA’s do a great job in delivering it (shoutout to Dan Vena and my TA Mehvish). My favourite assignments from that class have to be the clip analysis and the screenplay; both let your mind run wild and it was awesome.
Favourite thing about Teach Exec?: I LOVE Teach Exec!! I might be a bit biased because Claire was my Teach during my orientation week but everyone on Teach Exec is so welcoming and are willing to you help out with literally anything. Everyone on the team is so kind and welcoming, they make you feel at home right at the start of your Coneddie journey and that feeling doesn’t stop. I’m so excited to work with them during O-week, they are truly a great group of people.
Personal Spotlight: What is up class of 2026! My name is Kendra Johnston (no not Johnson like the brand) and I am so excited to meet all of you new Coneddies!! I plan on getting a drama/English medial, and I plan on going into the I/S stream with English and drama being my teachables. I love music and am a huge Taylor Swift (Reputation is my fave era), Alessia Cara, Conan Gray, and Shawn Mendes fan. Not only do I LOVE listening to music but I also sing/write my own music and have done multiple open mics and a few festivals back home! I love dabbling in the arts and danced recreationally for 13 years, written poetry that has won a few awards, and am currently a part of The Dan Studio Series which is a student-run theatre company on campus as a part of their production team! Another few things that I love are the 2nd floor of Stauffer Library (trust me you will too), Starbucks (Iced Chai Tea Latte is my go-to), watching cute foster kitten tik toks, Kawartha Ice Cream, karaoke, Cogro cake, my giant Baby Yoda squishmellow, and the TV show Jane The Virgin (#teamrafael). A fun fact about me is that I am actually a twin! For those who are wondering, no we don’t look alike but we both plan on becoming teachers and are heavily influenced by music! I am so excited to meet you all and don’t be afraid to say hi to me at any point during O-week and during the school year, I am here to support you <3.
Words of wisdom: Try new things and get involved! Coming to Queen’s and moving away from home for the first time can be tough, but the Con-Ed department is such a wonderful way to meet new friends and settle into this new chapter of your life. First-year goes by really fast so make sure to take time for yourself and explore all the possibilities Queen’s has to offer; there are so many ways to get involved in clubs, teams, societies, and productions on campus, trust me when I say there is something for everyone here (*cough cough* there is a squirrel watching club). Maintaining your physical and mental health is also VERY important; go to bed at decent times, nourish your body properly, and practice mindfulness because burnout is real and can happen easily (I know from experience).
Jenny Liu
Sophie Buchowsky
Name: Jenny Liu
Nickname(s): Jen or Friendly Jenny
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Stouffville, Ontario
Favourite thing about ConEd?: My favourite thing about ConEd is the love that we all share and receive from the program. No matter where you go, you can feel the amount of ConEd love near you! Everyone in ConEd was so friendly and supportive, such that it makes you feel like entering into a big family full of warmth, sweetness, and love! As a Con-Eddie, you don't need to worry about not making any relationships with others as we will be all beside you at the time you become a member of ours :) Also, there's no need to be afraid of failures as a Con-Eddie because we are all in the same boat and will promise to walk you through all different kinds of challenges! So long story short, just believe in yourself and make that first step into the program, and once you are in, you are part of the family!!
Favourite first-year class?: My favourite first year class has to be PROF110! You will never be disappointed with this course and it is the one that you will most likely want to sacrifice your morning sleeps to wake up at 8:30 to begin the class! (unless you've selected the morning section like I do here LOL) In PROF110, there's lots of opportunities to meet new people who wish to pursue the same career path as you! By making connections, you will find that everyone near you holds the same aspiration, while in this moment, you never feel alone in your way! Other than that, PROF also introduces you to a new perspective of looking at the role of an educator. These new insights can bring you to a fuller understanding of what it means to become a teacher and what are some criteria or expectations that you should set for yourself as you move forward in this path. By all means, PROF is the most fun and exciting class I have ever attended since coming to Queen's and I am sure that most of you will find the same once you start this remarkable journey of yours!!
Favourite thing about Teach Exec?: My favourite thing about Teach Exec is all the funny and enthusiastic character traits of all seven Exec teaches! Team MMMAgNifiCeNt is the BEST!!! They have been working hard in creating a memorable and unique O-Week for all incoming Con-Eddies under all kinds of Covid challenges. They understand that with Covid restrictions, many aspects of O-Week will be changed corresponding to these limitations, but yet, their passion in bringing the best for the Class of 26 is undeniable! As well, we are confident to serve our roles as teaches because of the existence of this wonderful team who always has our backs and encourages us to do the best with our abilities! As a result, you will all get the chance to see and chat with this fantastic team (Team MMMAgNifiCeNt!) during your time in O-Week!!
Personal Spotlight: Hey Class of 26! My name is Jenny Liu, and I am really excited to welcome all of you lovely incoming Con-Eddies into our program! I am aiming towards majoring in English and minoring in History. I am looking forward to becoming an I/S with teaching subjects: English and History. Few fun facts about me are that I am able to speak English, Mandarin and Cantonese fluently, I have learned piano for seven years and reached the tenth level according to RCM, and I have three goldfishes and a hamster as pets at home! During leisure times, I really enjoy spending time listening to music and producing some music of mine :) if any of you found the same interest --> come and chat further with me!
Words of wisdom: The future is full of challenges, but they are challenges that help you grow! I understand that the transition into universities can be tough, and especially difficult during the pandemic. In fact, I can relate to your difficulties as a Con-Eddie of the Class of 25, but I must tell you that your concerns are just shackles that pull you away from accepting your future. I can also relate to your feelings of getting away from home to study in a new environment, this means that you will now be in charge of your own health and minding for issues that relate to your own living. However, the positive side of this transition is that you are getting even more freedom that you expected! The only advice I want to give to all of you is to **GET INVOLVED** whenever possible. You will never know what other opportunities are waiting for you in future years, so don't wait to participate in upper years, participate NOW!! By getting involved in the community, you are able to build stronger relationships with fellows, strengthen your resume, and most importantly, gain the most valuable experience by learning new stuff from upper years! So, very excited to see all your arrivals into our big and lovely ConEd family, and congratulations on your admission to Queen's! You've Got This!!!
Name: Sophie Buchkowsky
Nickname(s): Soup, Soapy,
Personal Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Whitby, ON
Favourite thing about ConEd?: I love interacting with all of the different personalities in ConEd. The excitement of going to a random party or event and meeting someone new only to exchange, "You're in ConEd? OMG I'M IN CONED! Wait- What are your teachables? Oh P/J ok so what's your Major..."
Favourite first-year class?: DRAM 100. Grahame is one of the best professors you will have if you take this course. He may or may not wear high heels to class one day but you definitely did not hear it from me.
Favourite thing about Teach Exec?: My favourite thing about Teach Exec is whenever I get to make Cayli laugh because she is one of the most naturally funny people I've met.
Personal Spotlight: My name is Sophie Buchkowsky but there's a good chance you'll be calling me soapy after only knowing me for a day (I don't know why this keeps happening, ask my friends). I am in I/S with a Drama major and my second teachable in English. Some hobbies I have include making art, playing on ConEd's intramural dodgeball team, hanging out with my cat, Carmen, and chefing up some ramen at least twice a week. Some of my favourite Kingston spots include Kingston Asian Super (KAS, for all your ramen needs), Agent 99, and hanging out behind the Isabel Bader Centre. I hope I can reveal more of my favourite spots to everyone I meet during O-Week 2022!
Words of wisdom: My personal mantra: Indifference is bliss. High school can be filled with petty drama that you simply won't have time for in University. Escaping from that is honestly really refreshing. Do yourself a favour and try not to sweat the small stuff. Try to extend as much kindness and patience with others as you can; you never know what someone else is going through and harbouring negativity can be really exhausting!