When I began university at Thompson Rivers University I hadn’t had full intentions of what exactly I wanted to do. One thing I did know is that I wanted to work with children. I originally applied to the Human Services Program and was placed on the waitlist. So, I decided I would begin with the Education Assistant and Community Support Worker Program and from that ladder into Human Services. I got to experience working in a high school setting with children who various learning levels. It was not easy finishing the program as halfway through I found out I was pregnant. I knew that after I finished the program I would need to place my education on hold and replace being a full-time student with being a full-time mother. I fell in love with being a mom, but it wasn’t to say that it wasn’t difficult me and my son’s father had to relocate back to 100 Mile House because that is where his job was. I had family there, but the town being so small didn’t have much else to offer. My partner was gone offer fighting fires so raising a newborn with little spousal support was hard. His stepmother needed to take time off work for medical reasons, so she asked me to fill in for her. I did really want to work as an indigenous recreation facilitator because I wanted to continue being at home full-time with my son, but I felt obligated. After my son’s dad and I split I moved back to Kamloops and got accepted into the Police and Justice Studies Program at Thompson Rivers University. After the first year I realized it wasn’t for me and due to financial stress, I moved back home to 100 Mile to be close to my family for support with my son. I originally got a job as a server at a restaurant and later got a position on-call for school district #27. My job was good, but my life was lonely, and I got stress about money every time I didn’t get called. I worked In Kamloops serving on the weekends my son was at his dad’s. This allowed me to see my friends and boyfriend. I applied to the school district in Kamloops and a few months later received a call. I finally had the opportunity to relocate back to Kamloops and after having the experience as working as a non-certified Teacher-On-Call I decided to work towards getting my teaching degree. I have applied to the Bachelor of Education Program and until then am finishing up my requirements. I am a single mother, a full-time student, an on-call Education Assistant, and a part-time server. Going to university is difficult at the best of times, so adding everything else it makes it sometimes seem impossible but I’m still here and I’m still trying failures and all.

 

My life story is included in my portfolio because it describes the discontinuity within my experience of education. Just as many Indigenous people that attended residential school their experience with education was not always positive and continuous. As stated in my life story I had the opportunity to work with Indigenous children facilitating recreational activities. This is a large reason why I felt it important to better understand the history of education for Indigenous people. I worked for the Canim Lake Band out at the Reserve and got to talk to various elders about their experiences regarding the education system. It allowed me insight into how greatly residential schools impacted Indigenous children and how it still plays a role in their lives today. The impacts of residential school are generational.