International Student Success Story

CSSC-MacEwan

International student Shaoping Shi, from Longkou in Yantai City,
# _% ^9 P  C; W2 C1 [  VChina, is a proud graduate from the Accounting and Strategic
Measurement program. Her hard work has paid off; in July 2008 she
! ?4 v- I$ [( t  v* daccepted a position in the MacEwan Financial Services department.
: e: J" p) x$ x# TIt is an outcome she could never have predicted in 2003 when she
came to Grant MacEwan as an exchange student from Heze Medical
" a0 e: s# j& T; TCollege 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,
! D3 r" t4 t1 bbarely keeping up with her program and on the verge of commencing
her clinical practicum. “I asked myself, ‘What’s my goal? Do
0 V  b5 k# }0 f' m9 w6 W+ J$ M, QI want to stay in nursing my whole life?”
' v) B/ N' m' V, K2 C( OShe turned to Katherine Hildebrand at the Student Resource
Centre. “I noticed that Katherine was a good friend to many, and as
* v, |6 X4 `5 P1 `, Zan international student I have learned that you have to speak out,
talk to someone. You cannot be struggling by yourself. Even if you
find a way forward, it’s going to take you so long. They are going to
6 x, ^5 Q7 q( @! {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
, y1 U; V  ]- s8 Kwell. 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.
“It was a really, really big challenge. It was a good thing I was in the
4 g) ?5 K% r  K2 C- J: ^' aco-op program. I was able to practice and get paid. It really helped
out.” Shaoping believes that nothing is impossible. “My favourite
, C6 E0 M( a7 V$ ^+ j& j5 Rfeeling 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.
$ J: j6 ?" t, S; |“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.”
0 E3 |( R' T% z/ H  rWith such support and a new job, she has decided to stay in
% X+ d2 r; A( E# h) h+ ]* aEdmonton for now, “I feel Grant MacEwan is my home here.” With
diploma in hand, Shaoping is looking forward to a trip back to China
5 p8 h2 t- b1 T% y7 L3 I& O0 oin February 2009 for Chinese New Year.