Shannon Cusitar

Engaged learning thanks to an accepting atmosphere

When current second year Social Work student Shannon Cusitar, 26, first thought about returning to school six years ago to upgrade she sought the testimony of others to help find the best path.

“I heard from many people that NorQuest College was the best school in Edmonton for upgrading,” she says.

With that, she eased her way back into school mode with various classes over a four year period. Soon she had what she needed to apply for post-secondary programs and again looked for opinions on which school she should attend – this time to follow her dream of becoming a social worker.

“What I was told was that NorQuest was a really supportive college environment and that everyone had a sense of unity. That’s was what made me decide to move past Academic Upgrading and on to post-secondary studies at NorQuest.”

Despite the reassurances, she arrived feeling a little uneasy about her abilities to succeed at the college level. And when the pressure of feeling out of place hit a climax, she almost called it quits.

“But then I remembered what people told me so I took the initiative to approach my teachers and to explain my fears,” she says.

What happened next was just as advertised.

“The teachers were extremely responsive to me. They were very open and helpful to not only my educational needs but my personal needs.”

She was even encouraged to become one of the College’s RBC Student Ambassadors, a program she says is an incredible resource for students looking to integrate into NorQuest life.

“I’ve been able to harness all the things that being part of that team has offered me,” she says. “I am now able to network my personality, and to network my face so people remember me. My confidence is so much better than I expected it could be.”