Karlton Bearhead

(WHMIS) Workplace Hazardous Material Information System

Cooking up a tasty career choice

Karlton Bearhead’s recipe for success starts with a pinch of high hopes, a delightful dose of motivation, capped off with a generous helping of business know-how from NorQuest College.

“I really want to get into business,” says the 23-year-old first-year business administration student. “It’s a bit of a career transition for me. Originally I wanted to go into the culinary arts.”

From the Paul Band First Nation west of Edmonton, Bearhead had actually made physical plans to become a chef, completing one year of apprenticeship before eventually making the move to business at NorQuest. Now, he is looking forward to a number of options thanks to his dual training.

“I’ve thought about opening a small business. If it’s a restaurant; that will be down the road,” he admits. “But the business admin course has opened some more doors for me. I can go into accounting, for example. That would allow me to do both in a restaurant setting: taking care of the books as well as working in the kitchen.”

Bearhead actually began his NorQuest journey in 2012 as an upgrading student. His transition to business admin has been very seamless thanks to the college’s student-centred focus.

“I would say the atmosphere at NorQuest College is warm and inviting. And after I am done here, I will have a better understanding of what I need to do to succeed.”

I would say the atmosphere at NorQuest College is warm and inviting. And after I am done here, I will have a better understanding of what I need to do to succeed.