International Student Success Story

CSSC-MacEwan

International student Shaoping Shi, from Longkou in Yantai City,
$ Z6 `: h' g2 ?. Z" |China, is a proud graduate from the Accounting and Strategic
$ v% |, i- ^5 F/ H! A! yMeasurement program. Her hard work has paid off; in July 2008 she
6 J. g- u: ]$ Q4 t6 y* xaccepted a position in the MacEwan Financial Services department.
It is an outcome she could never have predicted in 2003 when she
" p3 n% [% a, h5 q, d  \* _came to Grant MacEwan as an exchange student from Heze Medical
7 z! ^$ b( I+ ^2 |) H% `College to continue her nursing studies. She came as a top student
( T4 `% A* q- Y! K% g0 aand 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
" G3 H0 w  [& {% `" mher clinical practicum. “I asked myself, ‘What’s my goal? Do
7 \: `$ ~' g# `- mI want to stay in nursing my whole life?”
! _0 a+ q" c: p8 d8 ]She turned to Katherine Hildebrand at the Student Resource
, G* v- D! R: M. T  ]5 `& @/ vCentre. “I noticed that Katherine was a good friend to many, and as
an international student I have learned that you have to speak out,
% B6 {0 R# g# x) N: btalk to someone. You cannot be struggling by yourself. Even if you
# S" E, b4 ^: [6 C! jfind 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
4 N2 @/ @; C% P+ Cwell. 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.
: F/ v% T/ z5 e4 U6 f“It was a really, really big challenge. It was a good thing I was in the
2 m* w' |- Z& \. H2 U$ u6 R; eco-op program. I was able to practice and get paid. It really helped
  M/ G4 J7 e7 {# f5 `out.” Shaoping believes that nothing is impossible. “My favourite
feeling is enjoying a small success after working hard on a challenge.”
3 y% Y- S& ?3 ?! SThroughout 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
' u6 j* r7 h9 S& m& banything from my heart. She always has my best interests in mind.”
& m! k$ G) M& g- x0 x4 d# m$ kWith such support and a new job, she has decided to stay in
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
6 k, z; N' V4 }  [in February 2009 for Chinese New Year.