Student Type: Transfer Scholarship Recipient

After completing high school in Shawnigan Lake, Michelle Silva originally decided to attend Vancouver Island University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in psychology. She became involved with the VIU Psychology Club and shortly after became Vice-President, organizing special events and other initiatives (including a self-care package handout initiative for World Mental Health Day and a Check-in Café providing students with an opportunity to chat with the Club members).

While she found her time at VIU fulfilling and a confirmation of her interest in the field of psychology, Michelle knew that transferring to a larger institution would open up more career and educational opportunities. Fulfilling a longtime dream, Michelle transferred to the University of British Columbia where she is currently completing her degree.

Michelle’s time at UBC so far has “definitely been positive.” She has kept very busy with coursework and has recently joined the UBC Psychology Students Association. “There are a lot of new opportunities [at UBC],” says Michelle.

Over the past few years, Michelle has dealt with health struggles related to dysautonomia. While the symptoms were overwhelming at first, she has been able to successfully able to manage using strategies and skills she’s picked up. She is particularly proud of having missed no classes in her recent Fall term.

Now near the end of her degree, Michelle is looking towards her future options. Courses in clinical sciences, education, and child & adolescent developmental psychology have sparked her interest in a number of potential career pathways, such as youth or school councillor. UBC offers a unique opportunity for Michelle to complete her Bachelor of Education in a shortened timespan, opening up another career pathway as a teacher. Michelle is also considering the possibility of completing a master’s degree at UBC or at the University of Victoria.

Like many students, a significant challenge for Michelle’s transfer was the financial cost. This was particularly the case in relocating to Vancouver, a city with a higher cost of living. “It would have meant working two part-time jobs,” Michelle explains. She is grateful that receiving the Ike Barber Transfer Scholarship has “really reduced a lot of financial stress” and that support from the Scholarship “makes it possible” for her to be on this journey.

Outside of academics, Michelle loves to crochet, occasionally selling her work at local craft fairs. Since transferring, Michelle has joined the UBC Knit & Sew club, where she says it has been “nice to find people with the same interests.” Through it all, Michelle is steadfast in following her dreams: “When things get harder and challenging, I focus on where I’m going.”

When Ava Craig began her studies at Okanagan College, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. That changed when an opportunity arose to volunteer with H.O.P.E., a non-profit organization supporting women experiencing homelessness around downtown Kelowna. The experience was a profound one. By the end of her first year at Okanagan, Ava had decided that she wanted to pursue a career in social work.

Soon Ava was applying to Bachelor of Social Work programs. Accepting an offer from Thompson Rivers University, she was ready to take the next step towards fulfilling her career goal. But transferring to Thompson Rivers was more than just starting a new program.

For Ava, transferring meant living on her own for the first time in a new, larger city. The first few weeks were a tough adjustment, but Ava has now found a community of other students in similar situations. She’s been able to connect with them through the university’s clubs and social events. “Everyone has been super welcoming,” she says, especially her Social Work classmates.

Continuing her education at Thompson Rivers University has widened Ava’s perspective on social work. “There’s more room to take courses you’re interested in,” she explains. The courses are diverse and detailed, covering topics such as mental health, grief & loss, and gender expression. While Ava has found her work with H.O.P.E. and with organizations like the Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) Clinic in Kelowna fulfilling, she is keen to explore other avenues within social work while completing her degree. Through her Practicum term this upcoming Winter, Ava is hoping to gain experience in the areas of immigrant services or children & family services.

There is a lot to manage as a transfer student beyond the significant first step of moving to a new city, and money worries can add a lot more stress. For Ava, receiving a $5000 Ike Barber Transfer Scholarship was “a huge relief”, both in terms of alleviating costs and the stress of the process. Ava is thankful for the positive effect the scholarship has had on her transfer experience, allowing her to “relax a little bit and know that things will work themselves out.”

After completing her bachelor’s degree at Thompson Rivers, Ava hopes to continue her studies into a master’s degree, possibly at University of Victoria. From there, she hopes to pursue a career that focuses on providing compassionate and quality care to those in need.

I am a West Coast kid, from Vancouver Island. My parents split up when I was young, so I bounced between them a lot – that was tough at times. I was really into biking. My brother and I would go to the skate park or ride out in the forest and nature. But it was music that really saved me. My mom was a big classic rock fan and enrolled me in guitar lessons. So that planted a seed. I got into band class from grades 9 to 12, with a great teacher at Mount Douglas Secondary, and it was amazing. The class was a welcoming, fun, and collaborative space for everybody to learn. Then I picked up the bass guitar so I could join the jazz class, and also learned double bass, and picked up some piano as well.

When I graduated from Mount Douglas, I received encouragement to continue with music. So, I enrolled at Camosun College in Victoria to “dip my toes in” and explore post-secondary music studies. But that program was more performance based, and I really liked the idea of teaching music; of inspiring students the way the teachers at Mount Douglas had inspired me. I decided to apply to the University of Victoria to pursue my education further. I knew finances were going to be tight but, with my mom’s help, I applied for the Ike Barber Transfer Scholarship offered by the BC Scholarship Society and was thrilled when I was awarded the $5,000 award. I am really excited about the chance to work with my own students someday. To see them grow and develop. To work on cool arrangements of songs and present concerts with them. I am grateful to the BC Scholarship Society for helping me move toward realizing this dream.

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

I was born in Nigeria in 2001. When I was 3 years old, my Dad got a job in Ireland as a psychiatric nurse, and our family moved there. I loved Ireland, but it could be rough too. I remember fighting to defend myself from racial discrimination. Getting chased with box-cutters. That will toughen you up. But in 2011 my family moved to Central Ontario in Canada, and I was awestruck by the beautiful lakes. The forests and farms. Then a year later, we moved to Vancouver, and I fell in love with the mountains and ocean.

I was always athletic. I played soccer in Ireland and Canada, and ran track. But my love of sports was challenged by having tendinitis and scoliosis. So I had to learn how to manage my injuries, and that evolved into my interest in kinesiology. In 2019, I went to Langara college to study anatomy and physiology, and strength and conditioning. I learned how to take a patients history and look for the causes of an injury. In 2022, I started coaching basketball, and helped the players treat their injuries. I also worked with people with developmental and physical disabilities. Since my rough and tumble days in Ireland, playing sports and getting bruised on the streets, I’ve dreamed of helping people heal their own injuries. I’ve seen how profoundly treatment can benefit a life. There are so many people walking around in pain. Suffering with congenital conditions, they think can’t be helped. But they can. I know that from my own experience. I want to alleviate their pain. Help people live their best lives.

So after Langara, I applied to UBC to finish my degree; studying kinesiology with a focus on physiotherapy. I was accepted at UBC, but my family had no money to help me. My parents told me not to lose faith. That prayers get answered. But I had no idea how I’d pay for school tuition, transfer costs, and living costs. I was frustrated. Then I learned about the Ike Barber Transfer Scholarship. I guess like a lot of the people, I never thought I’d get it. I don’t know if its a self-esteem thing. Maybe we all have that sense of fear. That we don’t deserve it. That there’s nothing special about our story. But I took a chance and applied, and I was accepted. I was awarded $5,000, which has made it possible to continue my education and pursue my dream. So maybe prayers do get answered, after all.

IN HER OWN WORDS:

I was born & raised in the beautiful Okanagan. I am currently in my 3rd year of the Bachelor of Science and Nursing program at UBCO. I’ve had a strong passion to help others since graduating from High School, when I volunteered through Live Different to became a motivational speaker in schools across eastern Canada, addressing thousands of students on the topic of suicide prevention. I also taught English in Mexico and built homes in Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Mexico.

After my time as a Live Different volunteer, I started working as a care aide, and did that for 7 years. But I began to feel that the scope of my practice was limited; and that pushed me to take my knowledge and skills to a new level. I felt that the BSN program would afford me new opportunities to develop my practice, and take the next step in my career goals.

But going back to school was a challenge for me. It took a year to upgrade my high school courses, so I could apply to the Bachelor of Science and Nursing (BSN) program. As a mature student, upgrading was one of the hardest decisions to make. Not only was I uprooting my life, but I was also giving up my financial stability, to reach this higher goal. I’ve managed to maintain a high GPA, and have made the Dean’s List honor for all 3 years. But it hasn’t been easy.

I also managed to acquire a position at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH), on the Post Anesthetic Recovery (PAR) unit. I had to fight to get the job, but it has been an amazing opportunity. I’ve been working there for the past two years, and it’s provided an incredible platform to expand my healthcare knowledge. It’s broadened my understanding of what Registered Nurses do on a daily basis, and continues to ignite an interest in different branches of nursing such as; Post-Anesthetic, Forensic, and Wound Care nursing. I see myself as working on the front line of healthcare, providing care to some of the most vulnerable populations.

I’m eager to experience more educational challenges, and be exposed to a variety of high-pressure emergent situations. I feel like these moments bring out the best in me, and I’m excited to learn more: to acquire the skills to assess and manage patients in these difficult situations. But I wouldn’t be able to do it without the student loans, scholarships, and bursaries that have made it possible for me to attend school and pay for courses.

So I was thrilled to learn of my selection for the Ike Barber Transfer Scholarship, and I am deeply appreciative of that support. I remember when I got the news. I was checking my emails during a lunch break at work when I found out. I immediately shared this wonderful news with a coworker, and became emotional, because she was so happy for me. I felt like all the hard work I’d done had finally paid off; all the juggling studies with work, writing essays for awards, sacrificing time away from friends and family, and applying for scholarships. Getting that award felt like it confirmed all the hopes and dreams I’d nurtured over the years. Like life was telling me …

“You’re on the right track. Follow your bliss”.

I have a huge appetite for adventure, enjoy a good hike, and love to travel, however, most of all, I love spending time with my dog.

IN HER OWN WORDS:

I was born and raised in a loving family, in Prince George, BC.  Early on in my life, events occurred that led me to believe that I had to grow up quickly.  I felt alone and anxious, scared about the future and I struggled with depression.   I could not see myself doing post-secondary training. I had found math and science difficult.

Then when I was 16, someone from the BC Crisis and Information Center came to speak at our school.  I was inspired so, I volunteered for the crisis line. At first, I was scared to talk on the phone, but the experience transformed my life.  I felt such a strong connection with the people who called in. Nothing mattered beyond that connection. To be present and vulnerable with them. To let them know, “I’m here with you. I’m here to listen without judgment.” Sometimes at the end of a call the person would tell me, “Thank you. You saved my life” they would say.  But I learned that people actually have the ability to save themselves, and a desire to get well. To go to the light. We just need encouragement sometimes. A little push. A lifeline.

I think that’s what the Ike Barber Transfer Scholarship is all about. To give people a helping hand, at a critical time. I’m 21 now and a paid employee at the crisis line, and I love the job so much. When I realized I wanted to make this my life’s work, I enrolled at College of New Caledonia to study social work. But I didn’t have the financial resources to cover tuition and my bills, and the cost of transferring to The University of Northern BC to complete my degree.  I started feeling really stressed about money. So, I applied to the BC Scholarship Society for a Transfer Scholarship, and a few months later, I was awarded $5,000! I’m a 3rd year social work student now and have 1 year left. My dream is to work in a children’s hospital. To help kids deal with grief and loss. To be that caring lifeline for them.

If you want to continue your education too, I encourage you to apply for an Ike Barber Transfer Scholarship. You have to be willing to put yourself out there, to get what you want. It’s not easy to reach out. I know how hard it is for the people on the crisis line to ask for help. It can be hard work pursuing a dream too. But, I think when we do, it benefits everyone around us. Dreams, like hope, are infectious. My other dream is to be a writer, so I’d like to share this little poem, that sums up how I feel:

Here is my plan, my dim little light, my best kept secret, my day’s delight:

I want to help people survive,

I want to be their ray of light.

I want to feel the ocean breeze,

I want to see the stars at night.