International Student Success Story

CSSC-MacEwan

International student Shaoping Shi, from Longkou in Yantai City,
$ _2 `' L( f' ]: SChina, is a proud graduate from the Accounting and Strategic
% ~+ d% E7 i7 |2 I4 I1 c; t! l, `Measurement program. Her hard work has paid off; in July 2008 she
, ~+ X: s5 ^; j  \+ naccepted a position in the MacEwan Financial Services department.
It is an outcome she could never have predicted in 2003 when she
came to Grant MacEwan as an exchange student from Heze Medical
College to continue her nursing studies. She came as a top student
and vice-president of her student activities association, but when she
got here, everything changed. Two years later she found herself struggling,
barely keeping up with her program and on the verge of commencing
her 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
* L; R0 {* Y& x! r$ e$ v, zan international student I have learned that you have to speak out,
7 V. B* o/ d* f2 dtalk to someone. You cannot be struggling by yourself. Even if you
/ p1 ^3 ~5 U4 xfind a way forward, it’s going to take you so long. They are going to
1 e' S! ]/ c. J4 D- p7 b% ~( F: Igive you the help that you need.”
" v5 H- `6 Q) F6 {, x. y+ K“Katherine asked me, ‘What are you interested in?’” I was interested
! L& Q, k8 S" R2 H8 j  m* S) Din numbers, so I tried a few basic accounting courses, and I did really
+ Y9 k+ K' j4 Z$ \3 S+ I; fwell. I got As, and I was so satisfied. Then Katherine helped me apply
2 N( s$ p8 t$ ^- zto the program.” That, however, was just the beginning of a long haul.
% [, {4 {! ~% ^) [0 h“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.”
Throughout 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
* Y/ Y. j( N* w# t$ ?anything from my heart. She always has my best interests in mind.”
With such support and a new job, she has decided to stay in
Edmonton for now, “I feel Grant MacEwan is my home here.” With
% |$ \& d" q- wdiploma in hand, Shaoping is looking forward to a trip back to China
in February 2009 for Chinese New Year.