´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨

Meet former ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨ Adult Upgrading student, Katelyn Millar

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 

I was born and raised in rural Manitoba, having moved to Alberta in 2017. I came from a standard middle-class upbringing. Being from a small community, I was itching to explore other parts of the world and have spent the past 10 years or so traveling and visiting countries near and far away. Currently, I live in Kelowna and have decided I want to live here long term! Have been here over 5 years - the longest I have been anywhere in my adult life! 

What brought you to Adult Upgrading at ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨? 

I made the decision to go back to school last year and knew I needed some classes I hadn’t taken in high school. I was told through friends to look into ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨ as it is free for adults to upgrade, and so I reached out and scheduled an assessment test and then got enrolled from there :) 

What were you doing before enrolling in the program? 

Working full-time (still am), and struggling to put aside money for the future as cost of living is higher in BC, (although I am very happy living here). 

Was there a specific moment or goal that made you decide to return to school? 

I have worked in hospitality for years, as it allowed me to make a good amount of money fairly quickly and then go traveling, sometimes for months - very flexible work. As I have gotten older, I began to crave more stability and consistency and ultimately decided it was time to get out of the industry and get myself a stable job and income. I will be going to school for Medical Imaging (X-ray/CT). 

Experience in the Program 

What courses have you taken through Adult Upgrading?  

Pre-Calculus. Physics. Biology. 

What was your experience like when you first started? How did ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨ help you feel welcome? 

I was nervous to start, as it had been over 10 years since I had been in high school. However, the support from the faculty and staff at ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨ have been wonderful. I never felt silly for asking questions or trying to understand the subject material. Lots of support was provided from the tutors on campus also :) 

What support did you receive that made a difference?

Time to ask questions and learn directly from the teachers has been super wonderful. Also utilizing the free tutors stationed in the Library Learning Centre. 

Did you take your classes online, in-person, or a mix of both? How did that work for your lifestyle? 

Most classes I tried to do in-person, but I did do some Hybrid options and I still felt I had the support I needed and went in and asked questions when necessary. 

Have you faced any challenges in your learning journey, and how did you overcome them? 

At first, returning to school was very overwhelming and I wasn’t sure I could even do it. I started with taking two classes at a time and still worked a full-time job. It was exhausting at times, but I kept my goals in sight and leaned on friends and support where needed. 

Where It's Taken You 

How has Adult Upgrading helped you reach your academic or personal goals? 

I will be applying to get into the Medical Radiography program come the new year (once all my upgrading is completed.) 

How has upgrading changed the way you view education or your future? 

Upgrading as a mature student is such an incredibly different experience than I thought it would be. I only had to go off of my experiences from high school so I wasn’t sure how well I would do. I must say, it’s a way better experience to learn in a classroom setting with other adults who are all CHOOSING to be there. Everyone has their own goals they are out to achieve, and it was great being in such a motivating environment. 

Advice and Inspiration 

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about returning to school through Adult Upgrading?

DO IT!! IT’S FREE! Like what have you got to lose? Also, utilize all the support options (like the tutors for example). 

What surprised you most about coming to ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨? 

How fantastic the teachers were! People who actually care and want you to succeed. Huge difference from high school teachers (in my experiences). 

If you could talk to your past self before starting the program, what would you say? 

I would say to just sign up and start. It took me thinking about this for a good six months+ before signing up. I was nervous I would fail so I kept putting it off.