THE BRANDON SUN • Lake Life • SPRING 2026
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“I try to balance summer work and classes by ensuring I book the days I’m free.”
Bukunmi Bantale
Sophia Dande-Ayasuk, Brandon University student. (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
“I usually take time off ahead because I have financial responsibility,” he said. “I don’t take so much time off work, but I try to set aside one or two days to catch up with friends and relax.” Transportation, he said, remains the biggest barrier. “I don’t have a car, so getting to places like Clear Lake is quite difficult,” Muoghalu said. “Sometimes you have to book rides or rent a car, and that adds extra cost.” Still, he views lake life as an essential part of student well-being in Westman. “It helps me reduce stress and take my mind away from responsibilities for a while,” he said. “It also helps you catch up with friends, which is really healthy.” Assiniboine College student Eniola Martins shared a similar view of summer as a time for intentional escape. “A perfect summer weekend would be driving out of Brandon to somewhere quiet and relaxing,” she said. “Just away from responsibilities — watch a movie, take a walk, eat and repeat.”
That theme — limited access balanced with strong ap- preciation — runs through many student experiences. Bukunmi Bantale, another BU student, envisions summer weekends as lively road trips filled with music, friends and long afternoons by the water. “Probably with some friends, just set out early in the morning with loud music in the car, driving all the way to the lake,” he said. “Playing in the water, having a barbe- cue, watching sunsets. That’s a perfect summer weekend for me.” But behind the carefree imagery is careful co-ordination. “I try to balance summer work and classes by ensur- ing I book the days I’m free,” Bantale said. “We make plans ahead of time so everyone’s schedules fit. And also having savings is important because these trips are not cheap.” Like many students, he said financial preparation is just as important as social planning. “We try to make sure everything goes as planned,” Bantale said. “Because without that, it’s not easy to just go on spontaneous trips.” For Chima Muoghalu, another BU student, lake trips represent a deliberate break from responsi- bility rather than a spontaneous outing.
“I’ve been to Clear Lake several times with friends and church groups. It’s more than just fun, it’s a place to recharge and reflect.”
Oluwatoyosi Babalola
Brandon University student Bukunmi Bantale (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
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