Our Grads | Stenberg College

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...

Connecting the dots

Harmeen Cheema’s transformation from a lost high schooler to a motivated Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) is an inspiration for young adults in a similar boat. While many remain lost, Harmeen found her path. When she was in high school, Harmeen felt a disconnect between her education and what she wanted to become. She was passionate about soccer but wasn’t sure...

Never give up on your passion

Becoming a doctor is an extraordinary achievement. It requires years of rigorous education, practice, and discipline. But Dr. Adriana Garcia sacrificed this title to start over and provide a better future for herself and her family. Growing up in Venezuela, Adriana had always known she wanted to be a doctor and put her heart and soul into becoming one. She...

Scars and all

“The Counselling Therapist program has given me tools I can use for myself. And I have. They are tools I can share with my clients. They’ve helped me learn that my past does not define me. It is part of my story but I am who I choose to become.” Today, Vandhana Plestid is a different person than she was...

Race to success

Janelle Hay proves winners never quit. Her can-do attitude is uncommon in someone so young and her determination to achieve is rarer. Janelle’s path to becoming a Cardiology Technologist was not exactly a cakewalk but she overcame hurdles with a can-do attitude. LEARNING TO FLY Janelle’s motivation to achieve and succeed is rooted in her experience as an athlete. She...

A Healing Journey: Melanie Morrison

Once a “wounded animal”, Melanie came out of hiding after 15 years to become a successful Practical Nurse Melanie Morrison wanted to be a fighter pilot but growing up in a dysfunctional home pushed her life in a different direction. She had to move out at the age of 17, which left a significant hole in her heart. Somehow, she...

Redefining Success as a Health Care Assistant: Sheetal Dhir

To find success, Sheetal changed her outlook and pursued a new dream as a Health Care Assistant When Sheetal Dhir came to Stenberg College, she was confident she would fulfil her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. As an outstanding student in high school, she had volunteer experience working with people and had taken university-level Biology, Statistics, English and Psychology...

A Better ‘Me’ as an Education Assistant

“It’s not that I’m a new ‘me’ but I’m a better ‘me’. A better ‘me’ who’s more confident and less doubtful. I fully believe in myself now.” For Faith Samson, these words didn’t come easily. She wasn’t always confident and free of doubt but today, as a graduate of Stenberg’s Education Assistant (EA) program, Faith can say with certainty she...

As Fate Would Have It

In 1992, 28-year-old Etsuko Fujita came to Vancouver from Japan alone on a one-year ‘working holiday’ visa. On her first day in the new city, she serendipitously made a very special friend. While in the check-in line at the YMCA, she began talking to a Japanese boy standing in front of her who, incidentally, was visiting on the same visa!...

Mom of the year

“They say your forties are the best years, and I am starting to think they’re right!” Going back to school in her forties was a tough decision for Lindsay McAuley. She had a young family to help look after and finances looked bleak. But Lindsay knew it was time for her to start a career. LOOKING BACK Life was not...

Next >>

<< Previous