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The transformative power of education

Nelofar Rahimi, or Nelly as friends know her, was born in Pakistan, the child of Afghan refugees. When she was just five years old, Nelly and her family immigrated to Canada and settled in Burnaby. Recalling the sacrifices her parents made to get her and her three younger siblings to Canada, Nelly tears up. “As a child, I never realized…

Overcoming anxiety

As Michelle read the letter of recommendation from her instructor, Allen Hoolaeff, she filled with emotion, “He wrote, ‘Michelle creates opportunities for her clients to become who they want to be. She is a strong leader but does not accomplish this by telling others what to do. She does this by being an active member who is willing to do…

It’s never too late

For Harpreet Dhaliwal, becoming a Nursing Unit Clerk was much more than a career choice. It was her dream. She had to keep this dream on hold for more than a decade to fulfill her duties as a wife, daughter, sister, and mother. Eleven years later, she achieved the success that was hers. A life-changing decision Harpreet was only 20…

Inspiring Selfhood as a Childhood Educator

For the Early Childhood Education Basic (ECE) and Post-Basic (ECE-PB) Student of the Year, Samantha (Sammi) Stittle, the end of her education signifies the key to finding her place in the world. FROM MOVEMENT TO STILLNESS Although Sammi dreamt of becoming an inspirational ECE, she was unsure of how to reach her true potential. Her home life in Saskatchewan was…

Creativity in communication

When asked to share an experience supporting a student with exceptionalities, Madeleine Lees smiled brightly. She answered quickly – she knew exactly which memory to share, “On my practicum, I supported a student with extreme behaviours. We were playing football during gym class and he did not want to participate. I brought him to the side of the field and…

Reimagining Tradition, Fulfilling a Mother’s Ambition

“My first month in Canada was very tough. I’ve never lived alone before and I was trying to cope with this feeling of not having family around while keeping up with my studies,” recalled Student of the Year Finalist for the Health Care Assistant (HCA) Program, Ivane Christian. THE ULTIMATE DREAM Ivane immigrated from India to make her ultimate dream…

Star student – from Darkness to Light

Raji Sandhu always wanted to care for those in need. In high school, Raji battled with anxiety and depression and felt a deep calling to become a teacher or youth worker. “I always wanted to work with kids,” she recalled. “There’s so much anxiety in kids today — when I put myself in their shoes, I can understand how they’re…

The grandparents that guided her in life and to a career she loves

Holding back tears, Montana Shermann took a deep breath and paused for a moment. “Sorry, I haven’t talked about them for a while.” She pulled herself to the present and continued, “I was close with my grandparents who passed away this year. They’re the reason I went into this field. They were a huge part of my life and I’m…

It’s worth it

“Back in India if you’re 30 and starting over, you’re done,” Pankaj’s eyes welled up as he narrated his struggles after immigrating to Canada. For someone like Pankaj who has a Master’s in Science and had a well-paying job in the pharmaceutical industry, starting from scratch would be an uphill battle. But Pankaj was ready to take on any challenge….

Finding passion and pride in nursing

It was hard for Stefania Jimenez to talk about herself. Accustomed to focusing on her patients and taking care of others, Stefania usually asks the questions. She let out a small laugh when asked what makes her a good nurse, uneasy about having to compliment herself. She thought aloud, “I think it’s my compassion and love for people. Making them…

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