Michelle Barbour is a recent Faculty of Arts graduate with a major in French. She is also currently pursuing a bachelor of education degree. But that's not all she's up to: she is also well on her way to becoming a business success.

Ms. Barbour is the proprietor of Tutoring for Young Minds, a French immersion tutoring business. She will be hosting her first K-6 French immersion Easter camp in St. John’s from April 9-13. Due to her business savvy, she's also been chosen to represent Newfoundland  at the 2012 ACE Student Entrepreneur competition taking place March 8-9 in Halifax, N.S. The competition will see her present on her tutoring business model.

“It makes so much sense to study French,” said Ms. Barbour, who was introduced to French at Leary’s Brook Junior High as a late French immersion student. “By being able to speak a second language, students can meet new people, avail of more employment opportunities and learn about a beautiful new culture.”

Ms. Barbour got the idea for her camp after launching the tutoring business in April 2008. 

“After my first semester at Memorial, I took a part-time job to pay my tuition. I decided that what I really wanted was to work my own hours and tutoring offered me that flexibility,” she said.

The Easter camp, which has space for up to 60 students, is only the tip of the iceberg for this entrepreneurial arts alumnna. Ms. Barbour already has tentative plans in place to hold a summer camp in August 2012 and is planning to launch a French immersion after school program in September 2012. Her company also offers one-on-one and group tutoring for all ages.

The Tutoring for Young Minds French immersion Easter Camp will be held at Leary’s Brook Junior High and costs $200 per student. Family rates are also available. For more information, email info@frenchforlife.com, visit www.frenchforlife.com or contact 709-725-2141.