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
Measurement program. Her hard work has paid off; in July 2008 she
accepted a position in the MacEwan Financial Services department.
It is an outcome she could never have predicted in 2003 when she
8 J$ }  M" k( O4 a, K' Tcame to Grant MacEwan as an exchange student from Heze Medical
+ `* P& k7 q9 v8 {  WCollege to continue her nursing studies. She came as a top student
and vice-president of her student activities association, but when she
( `; e; q3 [% C: r, X' zgot here, everything changed. Two years later she found herself struggling,
5 \9 T7 m* y( H) g% v6 hbarely keeping up with her program and on the verge of commencing
  d4 J" P8 N3 ]- _: T* Aher clinical practicum. “I asked myself, ‘What’s my goal? Do
I want to stay in nursing my whole life?”
- a$ D' C$ A: }" }She turned to Katherine Hildebrand at the Student Resource
Centre. “I noticed that Katherine was a good friend to many, and as
% E& q1 \0 I6 y6 M! ]( {6 i- man international student I have learned that you have to speak out,
* i$ x  P  {! y7 }6 D4 P8 ptalk to someone. You cannot be struggling by yourself. Even if you
8 Y; t' T! s* }6 d, Xfind a way forward, it’s going to take you so long. They are going to
give 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
9 n/ _$ \1 ?- X& c+ B4 H8 \; P* Owell. I got As, and I was so satisfied. Then Katherine helped me apply
. u& q* A9 j7 x& N! Xto 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
co-op program. I was able to practice and get paid. It really helped
out.” Shaoping believes that nothing is impossible. “My favourite
feeling is enjoying a small success after working hard on a challenge.”
& C7 ^7 D0 t/ ]  p) i7 t6 ~0 OThroughout this period Shaoping relied on a large circle of friends
and staff at Grant MacEwan, and high among them, Katherine.
“Katherine is like one of my parents. I trust her and could tell her
anything from my heart. She always has my best interests in mind.”
/ F. c; L! q* k: p8 ?9 NWith such support and a new job, she has decided to stay in
Edmonton for now, “I feel Grant MacEwan is my home here.” With
& Q( F1 k+ T. cdiploma in hand, Shaoping is looking forward to a trip back to China
1 g7 w# R7 ]$ M2 \in February 2009 for Chinese New Year.