Connor Jewell - Ice Hockey

BEAP is an environment that could not be more beneficial and welcoming to student athletes. It is the perfect program for allowing you to grow as both an athlete and human being. BEAP has taught me the fundamentals of teamwork, cooperation, leadership, and perseverance. All of which, are easily translated outside of the classroom.

My time in the BEAP program has also improved my confidence, ability to work with others and my ability to succeed in tough situations. Entering high school is often a stressful time, filled with unknowns. However, on my first day of school when I had my first BEAP class and was surrounded with like-minded student athletes, the connection was almost immediate. It was like an instant friend group which made the transition to high school a fun, positive, and amazing experience. The friends I made that day have stuck with me so far and I can only see a lifelong connection ahead.

BEAP sets you up to succeed. The additional specified training that I’ve received from BEAP has allowed me to excel past my competition both physically and mentally. The competitive and supportive atmosphere that all BEAP workouts have, has allowed me to unlock willpower, strength, and determination that I did not know I was capable of or that I possessed. The program has also taught me how to structure my own excellent workout plans and proper nutritional diets. The tips that I’ve learned around both of these things are lifelong skills that will allow me to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle well past my time in the program.         

All of this is just the tip of the iceberg of the benefits and opportunities that the BEAP program has to offer. As I progress past high school and into university, where I hope to pursue health sciences at McMaster (an interest sparked by BEAP), I will never forget the amazing times that Birchmount and the BEAP program have given me.