She who is willing to do and dare gets to the farthest

"In 2006 I returned to school to complete my Bachelor of Education Degree, at the age of 36. I had a 10-month old baby and a 3-year old son. Becoming a teacher had been a goal for many years, and I was only 2 years away from achieving this as I already had a Bachelor of Arts degree. Financially, it was a big commitment to step out of the work force for 2 years and to take a leap into a new career of teaching. It was also daunting to study full-time in the challenging field of education with 2 young children, while my husband was working hard to support our family.

Five years later, I am now employed in a permanent full-time teaching position in a school district in the Okanagan. My studies did not stop with a Bachelor of Education; once employed as a teacher, I continued to study part-time and have also received a diploma in Special Education. I am always inspired by my own students who overcome challenges every day in their lives and who continue to teach me about resilience and success. I have gratitude for organizations such as the Columbia Institute for their recognition of the needs of everyday citizens who have educational and career goals and need the financial support to attain these. Thank you!"

- Kathryn Golbeck -