Michael Baldock

Dallas, Texas
Business Administration
Michael Baldock comes from a long line of Trent grads – his brother and both parents are also graduates of the University.

Why did you choose Trent?

While growing up in Dallas was interesting and different, I wanted to go to a Canadian university.  My high school in Texas was huge, and upon graduation I was pretty tired of being a nameless face in the crowd.  I had no idea about universities in Canada, but knew I wanted to get a good education in a smaller, personal environment.  The fact that my brother and both of my parents went to Trent probably played a pretty big role in my eventual enrollment as well…

How would you describe yourself? How would others describe you? What are your passions in life?

I consider myself laidback, personable, and curious about the world.  I love relaxing and having fun, but equally enjoy getting work done when it needs to be.  I have a wide range of academic and personal interests.  My biggest passion is travel, and exploring new things in general. 

Have you been involved in any clubs, groups, and/or sports at Trent? If so, which ones?

One of the highlights of my undergraduate experience was participating in a year abroad in Seoul, South Korea.  While in Korea I was able to get an internship at a petrochemical/logistics company, which really brought some practical international perspective to what I had learned at school.  During the two month winter break from my studies I backpacked throughout Southeast Asia and parts of China.  This period was definitely the most exhilarating and enriching time of my life.  The Trent International Program and the business program were very helpful and flexible in terms of course scheduling and accommodating any special needs.  I strongly encourage any curious students to take advantage of the study abroad opportunities that Trent provides!

What has your time at Trent meant to you? What are some of your favourite memories? What will you take with you from Trent?

Going to Trent and living in Peterborough provided a lot of “growing room.”  When I first enrolled at Trent, I didn’t have a solid idea of what I wanted to do in life.  I thought I would get a degree in biology and see where that led me.  I took a wide variety of courses first year to see what interested me: biology, chemistry, anthropology, sociology, and economics.  As the years progressed I slowly shifted from the sciences to business.  Trent provides a lot of flexibility in this regard: I was able to start out school without a clear goal, study abroad in South Korea for one year, and still receive a Bachelor in Business Administration honors degree in four years.

Trent’s campus is beautiful year round; walking across the bridge between classes and swimming in the Otonabee River during the fall and spring are some of my classic Trent memories. The whole Peterborough area is full of fun indoor and outdoor events and activities if you put a bit of effort into discovering them.

The main thing I’ve taken with me from Trent is a newfound curiosity about the world and a higher level of critical reflection.  The interdisciplinary nature of many of the courses, as well as the ‘generalist’ position of the business program in particular, exposed me to a huge array of subjects and perspectives.

What are your future plans and aspirations?

I feel that my undergraduate experience has provided me with the skills and confidence to pursue further studies.  My time at Trent definitely improved my academic skills, and more importantly, my knowledge of the world.  I plan on taking a break from school and working for a year or two.  After that, I’m considering enrolling in a MBA/JD program somewhere in the US.