Hello everyone, my name is Cybell. I began my journey with the Canadian Learning Trust in 2016. During Grade 11, I decided on my post-graduation studies – I would become a Marine Engineer. My decision was greatly influenced by my sea cadet involvement, my love for working with tools, and an ambition of being some sort of engineer. By Grade 12, I started researching Universities that offered Marine Engineering, because the program was not offered at my local university here in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The only Universities appearing on my web browser were located in B.C., and the other was located in Newfoundland. In February of Grade 12, I ended up applying solely to the University in Newfoundland, called the Fisheries and Marine Institute. I believe it was that March I received my confirmation letter, and the planning for moving my whole life from Saskatoon, SK to St. John’s, NL started. It was around this time I applied for a scholarship from the Quadra Foundation which was funded by the Canadian Learning Trust’s Gifting of Learning Program. The scholarship was quite the game changer and brought a lot of peace of mind to my endeavor that I was about to begin. 

In August 2016, my mum and I relocated all my belongings and my dog Magnum to Newfoundland where I began my Diploma of Technology for Marine Engineer program that fall. The years that ensued were grueling. The program consisted of four jam packed years, fall, winter, spring and summer semesters, with three work terms offshore on vessels, and many extra training courses that were required for the engineering ticket. During my final semester things slowly started to derail. While offshore on my last work term, I got a phone call that my grandfather in Australia had passed away. Attending my grandfather’s funeral was difficult to navigate because I was working offshore in Newfoundland, my mother was in Saskatchewan, and the funeral would take place mid-December in Australia. Despite the circumstances, working with the company and the school, I was able to finish the required hours for my work term, disembark, and fly to Australia to be with my family. Coming back into January I had new determination to finish the program and make my grandfather proud. 

Come March 2020, my studies came to a grinding halt due to COVID-19. I completed the winter semester online, which was not too bad. However, by late March it became evident that I would not be completing my diploma on time, as the spring semester courses required me to complete multiple in-person safety training courses before being able to graduate. 

Among the confusion, I reached out to the school board about taking some Bachelor Courses. I had decided earlier that year to continue my education the next enrollment period, by taking the additional one-year program to gain my Bachelors’ in Maritime Studies. During the COVID shutdown, I was able to take two spring semester courses for this bachelor program, while my other Diploma program was on hold due to COVID restrictions. I finished the spring courses in the bachelor program at the end of June, literarily days before I got word that my Diploma program had received the go ahead to recommence in July, meaning I would be able to finally complete the safety training courses and graduate. I completed the program July 30th, 2020, and started to pursue my 4th Class Engineering Ticket at Transport Canada in August. My studies continued, as I got accepted to write my Engineering Knowledge exam once all my credentials had been sent to the Transport Canada Office. By the end of August, I had completed my Transport Canada exams, consisting of my Engineering Knowledge exam, General Motors exam, and lastly an Oral exam. I passed all three consecutively and got my ticket on August 24th, 2020. There was little time for reprieve, as my bachelor’s program started online that September. It was then that I realised I had met my goals; I had the knowledge, the education, and the skills to be a Marine Engineer. Holding my little piece of paper, I felt quite proud that I had made it, despite all the hurdles. 

I believe it was mid-November when I drove to the Marine Institute and picked up my actual Diploma and my graduation cap. This felt quite out of place, as graduation in my mind was supposed to have happened in June 2020, although it did feel very nice to have the piece of paper. 

It is now February 2021, and my goal is to graduate on time this coming June 2021 from the bachelor’s program. I am quite looking forward to being done University and going to work as a Marine Engineer. The finish line is slowly coming within sight, and I am quite excited to start working. 

I believe everyone goes through high school with an idea of what they want, they either pick a field to enter into university out of a notion of what they might want to be in, hoping throughout their first year of general studies they figure out exactly what it is they want, or they take a year off to work or travel. Luckily, I feel there is a few of us that know exactly what it is we want to pursue, and I am quite glad I was one of them. No matter what path you find yourself on, or how many career changes you decide to take, the world keeps turning, and everyday happens no matter what. As long as you are figuring out what you want, success will eventually come your way. 

I hope by reading this, some people might gain the confidence to put in the hard work, to not shy away from opportunities, and sometimes what is required is taking a ‘leap of faith’ into the unknown. 

Thank you all for reading,

Cybell  

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated. You have not only helped Simone to achieve her lifelong learning goal, you are helping the Canadian Learning Trust to create a Learning Canada!