Trevor Dunn

Sarnia, Ontario
Cultural Studies and Hispanic Studies
As Trent’s 2008 Peter Gzowski CBC Radio Intern, Trevor Dunn will spend the summer working with CBC Radio. Mr. Dunn is also a Symons Medal winner, recognized for outstanding academic achievement.

Why did you choose Trent?

I chose Trent because of its reputation as a small university with strong relationships with the Peterborough community. 

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

I would say that I’m a very friendly, open person.  I love talking to people, hearing stories and telling them. In Spain last year I hitchhiked through the country for this reason: to hear and share stories with people. This interest in storytelling draws me towards working in journalism, which I’ve begun doing here at Trent Radio and Arthur.

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

I have worked and volunteered in many different roles since first year at Trent Radio, including programmer, production assistant, and Board of Directors. I have also worked for two years as an associate editor at Arthur newspaper. I have sat on the Cultural Studies program committee and executive committee in second and fourth year. In my third year I studied in Alicante, Spain with the Hispanic Studies year abroad program.  Returning to Trent for my fourth year, I began working as a Spanish Lab monitor and also helped with year abroad information sessions. I have also played intramural soccer (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball at Trent.

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

My time at Trent has been a time of very important personal, intellectual and social changes.  In my classes I’ve learned to think critically about the world and question things that are often taken for granted, including education itself and the way it functions. Outside of my classes, I feel very lucky to have met the people around me.  I hope to be in contact with the people I’ve met at Trent for the rest of my life and in other lives.  My friends and the people I’ve worked with here have been very important to be and are a big reason why I’ve accomplished what I have.  I really value the opportunities I’ve had to work with community media through Trent Radio and the Arthur.

What are your future plans and aspirations? What do you hope to accomplish?

I would like to pursue a career in journalism.  And, if possible, I would like this to take me to other parts of the world, South America in particular, where I’ve visited and will one day return.  This doesn’t necessarily mean a formal career, as I would be happy doing freelance journalism. 

It’s not up to me to make a difference and I have trouble with this idea. I would never try to anything other than respect the people around me. It’s very easy to make a difference in a negative way without even knowing it; I think we should focus on avoiding this. My girlfriend, my family and my friends are amazing and very supportive: It’s inevitable that they’ll rub-off on me and I look forward to the day that I’m more like them.