I began my post-secondary journey in 2011 at the University of Lethbridge, pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Addictions Counselling. For the first time, I felt comfortable in my own skin and excited about what was ahead. I had finally found purpose, meaning, and stability.
In February 2012, my world shifted when I discovered I was pregnant with my first child. In that moment, the purpose, meaning, and newfound stability I had worked so hard to create began to unravel. Everything I had built felt as though it was slipping away, replaced by fear, anger, and a deep sense of loneliness.
I completed my first year of the program and returned to the very place I had fought so hard to escape. My 4.0 GPA and dreams remained 200 kilometers away as I stepped into motherhood, carrying the heavy reality of becoming a statistic and the fear that my baby’s childhood would mirror my own.
My son’s first year of life challenged me in every way possible: emotionally, mentally, physically, socially, and financially. I found myself caught between two versions of who I was: the little girl once too afraid to make a move, and the young woman who had once found the strength to make her own path. This tension became a turning point, pushing me to embrace the unknown, lean into my strengths, and choose change.
In September 2013, I enrolled at Mount Royal University to pursue a Diploma in Child and Youth Care Counselling. Once again, I began to feel comfortable in my skin and hopeful about the future.
Throughout my time at Mount Royal, I excelled academically, socially, and professionally. I was named to the Dean’s Honour Roll each semester, received multiple bursaries and grants, was publicly recognized as Vice President of the Child and Youth Care Student Council, and earned two promotions at work. In June 2015, I graduated at the top of my class, which is an accomplishment I hold close to my heart.
Although I have always been proud of my Child and Youth Care Counsellor diploma, I knew my practice would remain limited without a social work degree. After years of internal debate, I made the decision to return to school once more.
When I received my acceptance letter, panic and regret set in. My life looked vastly different than it once had - three children, a husband working night shift, an elderly and grieving father living with me, and a full-time management role. The thought of adding school to an already full life felt impossible. However, with the encouragement and support of my husband and dad, I found a way to make it work.
This journey has been incredibly difficult, exhausting, and at times overwhelming, but it is an experience I will never take for granted.
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