International Student Success Story

CSSC-MacEwan

International student Shaoping Shi, from Longkou in Yantai City,
# _3 G! t0 e' c9 D- KChina, is a proud graduate from the Accounting and Strategic
Measurement program. Her hard work has paid off; in July 2008 she
" C/ Y$ \  q. U1 f* w) R6 Caccepted a position in the MacEwan Financial Services department.
, n! E+ R4 e6 Y! A# e; V5 v9 ]It is an outcome she could never have predicted in 2003 when she
came to Grant MacEwan as an exchange student from Heze Medical
; |! ^9 U3 q5 qCollege to continue her nursing studies. She came as a top student
7 p  m! C# b; \  v. `and vice-president of her student activities association, but when she
4 T& b8 {% |3 p9 X4 ugot here, everything changed. Two years later she found herself struggling,
9 [; j0 n3 ^0 Vbarely keeping up with her program and on the verge of commencing
her clinical practicum. “I asked myself, ‘What’s my goal? Do
9 _0 a% s( B/ `/ j/ nI want to stay in nursing my whole life?”
, _8 l5 D# N$ b( h  u5 kShe turned to Katherine Hildebrand at the Student Resource
. x( }, Y9 ?8 L0 A  r" |Centre. “I noticed that Katherine was a good friend to many, and as
4 r# Z6 e0 V! A, {8 \' J6 e9 @+ ran international student I have learned that you have to speak out,
talk to someone. You cannot be struggling by yourself. Even if you
4 f# `4 N+ t0 T' I# Yfind a way forward, it’s going to take you so long. They are going to
" Q% ]1 s- ]& F6 K3 ygive you the help that you need.”
0 q+ n1 Y6 F+ o7 n6 L“Katherine asked me, ‘What are you interested in?’” I was interested
9 Q3 H: G+ l3 I& A3 Pin numbers, so I tried a few basic accounting courses, and I did really
* k/ l% \- h6 o: @6 l4 p: rwell. 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.
+ o+ {' {: C& \3 L: g" ~1 @& M+ X“It was a really, really big challenge. It was a good thing I was in the
5 @" n& K5 I0 s5 x2 Eco-op program. I was able to practice and get paid. It really helped
out.” Shaoping believes that nothing is impossible. “My favourite
& z. s5 k% h( ?3 G1 _feeling is enjoying a small success after working hard on a challenge.”
6 ?' L& {# Z' |4 H3 l1 b4 b1 LThroughout 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.”
! X+ @7 V& M% ^. d. f+ f' VWith such support and a new job, she has decided to stay in
7 ~0 {3 H) D2 fEdmonton 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.