Wider Horizons

They come from B.C. and Montana and Brazil, from Cardston and Claresholm and other southern Alberta cities and towns. They chose different programs and look forward to different futures. But they all agree that what’s happened at Lethbridge College has been life-changing, meaningful and (more often than not), a lot of fun.

Here’s a glimpse at some of the people and places that made a difference for these soon-to-be Lethbridge College grads, as well as some advice they have for the students who follow in their footsteps. You can read the complete responses at widerhorizons.ca (our students had a lot to say and we needed to edit for space here).

Congratulations to all of our graduating students! You’re ready!

 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

 

*NOTE: Fletcher is a distance-learning student from Abbotsford, B.C., who will be coming to campus for the first time on Convocation day.

 

Favourite place or person on campus?

JB: The coulee behind the school that has some really good running trails for when the weather is nice.

HB: My favourite place is wherever there is a lot of traffic with students coming and going.

RDC: I love so many things about the college that I find it difficult to choose a single person or place that has made my experience at the college so wonderful. The quiet room in Health Services offers me a place for contemplation or rest. The truly amazing staff at the Learning Café and the library guide me when I had questions about accessibility, APA formatting and tutoring. The instructors, tutors and staff have educated me and prepared me for so many of life’s challenges.

PD: The IB Commons. I've probably spent more time there than anywhere else on campus, working on assignments or studying for exams.

MF: My favourite people on campus would have to be Lorraine Leishman and Bruce Oka. Lorraine is the person who gave me the wonderful opportunity to be part of the Educational Assistant program and I could not be more thankful for her. Bruce was extremely encouraging to me and was always willing to help me when I was having trouble with understanding assignments or projects.

MH: I’ve got to say that one of my favourite people on campus is probably my best friend Donna Sato. She has helped me grow so much since starting this program and has really helped change me as a person. She is one of the nicest, most genuine and hardest work people you could ever meet. I can't thank her enough for everything she has taught me and done for me.

LM: The Recruitment Team members are my favourite people on campus. They helped me achieve my college education in so many ways and I’m grateful I got the opportunity to work with them.

BP: Business instructor David Orr

DS: I have met so many amazing people through this journey that it's very difficult to choose a favourite. However, I would have to say that my best friend Miranda Hubbard wins the top spot. Although she is younger than me, she has taught me so much, especially perseverance. She is such a kind-hearted, talented and generous person and I'm certain that my experience at the college would not have been nearly as memorable and enjoyable without her. I will be forever grateful to Lethbridge College for giving me the opportunity to meet such an amazing person that I hope will stay in my life until I'm old and grey.

AS: I think my favourite place to be was at the dorms on 30th Ave.


 

Advice for a student about to start in fall 2020?

JB: Don’t panic! Don’t be afraid to try, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

HB: My advice is to attend orientation and to ask a lot of questions. I also think it’s really important to get to know your instructors. When you do, you feel more comfortable asking them for help and, because they know you, they are better able to help you.  

RDC: Don’t be afraid to ask for help and don’t worry if you’re not sure what you want to do for your vocation. Try the classes that interest you, apply for jobs that you would enjoy, and leave yourself open to every opportunity the college offers.

PD: Attend every class. It is the most important step on your road to academic success and although it seems easy, there will be days where you're at your limit. Dig deep, and go to that class.

MF: Know what you can handle course-wise. Don’t do more than you can handle because there is no rush when it comes to education. I would advise getting involved in clubs or school activities because it is a great way to meet new people that share the same interests. Make friends with people in your program because these are people who are going to be facing similar challenges  So if you have someone to turn to when you need to talk, they will be there when you need them.

MH: Always, always back up your work! Hard drives fail, so always make a backup. Don't be afraid to reach out to wellness services if you need help; they are there to help. Also, don't be afraid to talk to your professors about any issues that you are having; they can be extremely helpful and are there to help you learn and grow. Don't be afraid to take a break if you are feeling stressed. Drink lots of water, maybe take a nap and don't push yourself too hard. Finally, don't treat your classmates like competition for a job. If you help each other learn and grow, then you can all achieve your goals together.

LM: Use the services available for students at the college. They can help you to achieve a more balanced college life. Also, make connections with your instructors. They are the best resources for connecting you with job opportunities.

BP: Apply yourself to extra activities like case studies, internships and other programs on campus to maximize your learning and networking opportunities.

DS: There are many opportunities at the college such as workshops, events, and meet-and-greets. I understand that it's difficult to balance both school work and attend other things, but it's a great way to network. It's best not to assume that good grades alone will help you get a job. Sometimes it's who you know. Treat people with respect (especially staff and faculty). They work very hard to try and make a student's school life the best possible, so please show appreciation and be respectful. Instructors, other students and staff have feelings too. This next one is a difficult one since I have been guilty of this too, but try not to procrastinate. The longer you put things off, the bigger the pile will get and that can be overwhelming. Try to arrange an accountabilibuddy – someone who can keep you in check to make sure you're staying on track. That being said, it's okay to feel overwhelmed and it's okay to ask for help no matter how old you are. There are things that are just too hard to figure out or do on your own.

AS: Some advice I’d give to new students is to not skip your 8 a.m. class!

 


 

What are you looking forward to after graduation?

JB: I’m looking forward to another two years at the university to complete a Bachelor’s of Social Work.

HB: I am looking forward to keeping in touch with all the great people I have met at the college. I am hoping to use the skills I have learned both in my daily life and in the job market.

RDC: I’m looking forward to volunteering around Lethbridge after I graduate and to learn different art forms at Casa.

PD: I’m looking forward to the satisfaction of having completed the first phase of my studies, and taking a nice break before they start again at the university.

MF: I am extremely excited to walk across the stage and attend my graduation. I had a full-time job while attending Lethbridge College, but I am very excited to share what I have learned with others who I am working with. 

MH: I am looking forward to sleep! Also possibly going to Japan for a trip with some friends. I am also really looking forward to starting to work on building VR applications with a mental health focus.

LM: I’m looking forward to work as a biologist and eventually pursue my graduate studies.

BP: After graduation, I will take my family to Vancouver and the Pacific coast for a week to relax and see the ocean.

DS: I’m looking forward to starting my career and continuing to learn in the workplace – and also staying in touch with my friends and classmates and hearing about their lives after school.

AS: I’m really looking forward to starting a career in my program.

 

I’m looking forward to work as a biologist and eventually pursue my graduate studies.

{ Luiz Madeira }

 

Any shout outs or thank yous to share?

JB: My first semester here, I almost dropped out. I’d really like to say a big thank you to Karma Black from Learning Services for connecting me to the resources I needed to get through a trying time in my first semester. I’d also like to thank Karl Rejman, who taught me logic, for taking extra time outside of class to accommodate my needs and to Merle Fuller for being a reference for me on my university application.

I would like to give a big shout out to the Inclusive Education Program for all the phenomenal work they have done to help me throughout the four years I have been at the college studying business and therapeutic recreation. I am also thankful for the amazing people I have been able to meet and make connections with, including faculty, staff and all the students and classmates I have made friends with.

RDC: I want to give a special thanks to my instructors: Karl Rejman, Brent Cottle, Kelly Oikawa, Lizanne Fernhout, Jonathan Legg, Lance Semak, Kelly Kraus, Brad Wolcott, Jennifer Davis and Reilly Fenton. These instructors have taught me invaluable skills in the liberal arts that will make me successful in my continuing post-secondary education, my work and my life.

PD: I want to give a shoutout to literally every instructor in the School of Business. They are fantastic and I would not be the student I am today without them. And a "thank you" to Amber in the office for all your help with the Business Club.

MF: Thank you to my mom who pushed me into becoming an Educational Assistant and encouraging me to continue on to get my diploma. Without sounding cliché, I could not have done this without her. I truly believe that I would have been a nobody if it wasn’t for the love and support she showered upon me all my life. Thank you to my husband and my daughter for putting up with my late nights and constant moments on my laptop. Without your support and love, I would not have been able to finish my diploma. Thank you to the staff at Our Lady of Good Counsel School, for always being my constant support systems and for allowing me to complete my practicum’s at the school. And finally, thank you to Lorraine Leishman, one of the best teachers and supporters a girl could ask for. She was always able to relate to me. She was able to look at me like I was on the same level as her and never let me feel that I wasn’t good enough. She has so much passion for her job and that has inspired me to be the best Educational Assistant that I can be.

MH: Big shout outs and thank yous to our amazing instructors and TAs: Tanya Weder, Allyson Cikor, Mike McCready, Tyler Heaton, George Gallant, Kiri Stolz, Chelsey Voeller, and Michael Bandstra. Also to my parents Dean and Tracy Hubbard, and my brothers Justin and Andrew, for being so supportive and showing nothing but love. And to all my friends near and far, new and old who have stuck with me through everything!

LM:  Shoutouts to all of my instructors, especially: Steven MacRae, Shane Jan Roersma, Terry Kowalchuk and John Derksen.

BP: The instructors at the business program have been very professional and supportive.  The AgENT program was a great opportunity to explore new career paths and learn great skills.

DS: My instructors: Tanya Weder, Allyson Cikor, Tyler Heaton, Chelsey Voeler, Kiri Stolz, Mike McCready, George Gallant, Michael Bandstra and Ray Burgess. They were all amazing instructors and I am extremely lucky to have been their student. They really went over and above what a typical instructor is required to do. Also, I had the pleasure of both working and doing my practicum with the CTLI department. They are all very kind, patient and extremely inclusive and welcoming. The talent, creativity and knowledge that comes out of that department is truly exceptional and I'm very honored to have been a part of this team. I could probably write an entire book on just how wonderful everyone has been to work with and learn from.

AS: I’d like to give a shoutout my teachers Ashley Cesar and Gillian Comchi for being super helpful and also my classmates for being so inviting.

 

The instructors at the business program have been very professional and supportive.  The AgENT program was a great opportunity to explore new career paths and learn great skills.

{ Brandon Palmer }

 

How has Lethbridge College helped you Be Ready for whatever happens next?

JB: Lethbridge College has definitely helped me become more confident in my abilities as a student. I feel more equipped to deal with further education and I have also developed skills that I think will help me in the professional realm when I finish my education.

HB: The college has helped me in a number of ways. I am more confident – including speaking in public – than I was when I started. I have made a lot of connections here that will help me when I leave and enter the “real world.” And I have learned a lot from my therapeutic recreation and business classes. I intend to apply these skills to start my own business assisting seniors in lodges or nursing homes.

RDC: I always wanted to be an honour student and now I am! Lethbridge College has readied me for success. 

PD: The coursework and educational demands of my program have helped me cultivate a mindset that emphasizes discipline and working to succeed in everything I do. The projects and the extra-curricular activities throughout my diploma have also increased my self-confidence, which has allowed me to seize opportunities I would have never taken previously. In the end, the skills and qualities I have gained from my time at Lethbridge College will allow me to become a productive member of society.

MF: Lethbridge College has helped me Be Ready for whatever happens next by helping me realize what skills I have to offer to the education system and how to utilize them to the best that I can. I could not be more appreciative for the Educational Assistant program because I now have a career that I love to do every day of the week. 

MH: They have taught me such important skills, and I have met so many people who have changed my life. Through Lethbridge College, I have got to volunteer and attend so many events that introduced me to so many people that will help me achieve my goals. The knowledge that I attained will help me, help others, and that is exactly what I am going to do! Through hard work and teamwork, anything is possible.

LM: The college offered me opportunities to do things, not only hear or talk about it. The field trips for my program were extremely valuable most of the time. 

BP:  When I form a new business in the next few years, I will be using many of the skills and methods I have learned here at Lethbridge College.  I feel ready to succeed.

DS: Lethbridge College has helped me to relax and enjoy the moment. It's okay to go to the cat café and doggy de-stress once in a while. This experience has also taught me how to manage my time more efficiently. More than likely, multitasking will always be a part of my job description and the final semester has helped me to prepare for that type of lifestyle as well. Learning to ask for help has always been difficult for me, but now I realize it's okay to ask for help.

AS: Lethbridge College offers lots of help and support for students in order for them to be successful in whatever program they choose.

I always wanted to be an honour student and now I am! Lethbridge College has readied me for success.

{ River Daniel Del Corro }
Wider Horizons
Story by Lisa Kozleski / Photos by Rob Olson
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