International Student Success Story

CSSC-MacEwan

International student Shaoping Shi, from Longkou in Yantai City,
China, is a proud graduate from the Accounting and Strategic
" f  W# Z1 ?. S, J, G0 B% @+ `Measurement program. Her hard work has paid off; in July 2008 she
6 }1 X- l3 Z. |6 D5 g' K: Zaccepted a position in the MacEwan Financial Services department.
2 s% i7 e% [5 ?1 `  s4 zIt is an outcome she could never have predicted in 2003 when she
: d! y/ y1 X6 h9 [/ Ucame to Grant MacEwan as an exchange student from Heze Medical
College to continue her nursing studies. She came as a top student
3 j% }9 Q# t- N% d4 M. fand vice-president of her student activities association, but when she
got here, everything changed. Two years later she found herself struggling,
5 c4 |( G5 F$ Ubarely keeping up with her program and on the verge of commencing
1 f+ z9 x& o! Qher clinical practicum. “I asked myself, ‘What’s my goal? Do
I want to stay in nursing my whole life?”
She turned to Katherine Hildebrand at the Student Resource
Centre. “I noticed that Katherine was a good friend to many, and as
an international student I have learned that you have to speak out,
& j! y1 x  r9 l: btalk to someone. You cannot be struggling by yourself. Even if you
5 u, Y% Q/ q1 w6 o# Tfind a way forward, it’s going to take you so long. They are going to
- z$ f, x1 {) a% i- T( cgive you the help that you need.”
“Katherine asked me, ‘What are you interested in?’” I was interested
in numbers, so I tried a few basic accounting courses, and I did really
4 X* ?' Y9 S% o0 E! Gwell. I got As, and I was so satisfied. Then Katherine helped me apply
to the program.” That, however, was just the beginning of a long haul.
“It was a really, really big challenge. It was a good thing I was in the
0 j2 j9 W6 {% f2 n2 k3 }$ q0 M2 xco-op program. I was able to practice and get paid. It really helped
out.” Shaoping believes that nothing is impossible. “My favourite
: z6 i/ L) x1 j/ R; ^" r8 t9 {feeling is enjoying a small success after working hard on a challenge.”
5 E  i1 \* ^$ h0 ^3 p) M( OThroughout this period Shaoping relied on a large circle of friends
and staff at Grant MacEwan, and high among them, Katherine.
' G  ^% Z. j% B9 C3 T“Katherine is like one of my parents. I trust her and could tell her
6 d* ?( i+ T3 Y5 d- E6 h- Sanything from my heart. She always has my best interests in mind.”
With such support and a new job, she has decided to stay in
; T' m1 d- H, a: \6 P9 U/ }5 @Edmonton for now, “I feel Grant MacEwan is my home here.” With
diploma in hand, Shaoping is looking forward to a trip back to China
in February 2009 for Chinese New Year.