Inter-generational achievement
A mother-daughter graduating duo have taken a surprisingly similar path to arrive at their shared convocation day this spring just with a few decades in the difference.
While mom Colleen McConnell first enrolled at 91亚色 in 1984 planning to study biology and physics, daughter Alexandra Vaughan-Jackson signed up for biochemistry in 2012.
But on Wednesday, May 30, the women will collect their newly minted business degrees during the same convocation ceremony at the St. John檚 Arts and Culture Centre.
Naturally enough, they檙e both excited about the upcoming event.
淚t檚 awesome! said Alexandra, who will receive a bachelor of commerce (co-op.) degree.
淢om has put in so much work into getting this degree and I am so proud of her. With us graduating at the same time, it檚 like a culmination of both of our hard work towards our degrees, and I cannot wait.
淚t檚 only really just now sinking in how special it is, said Colleen, who檒l pick up a bachelor of business administration degree. 淕raduating together or even doing a similar program wasn檛 something we had considered.
Natural fit
Each woman took a somewhat circuitous route to the Faculty of Business Administration, they say, but, in the end, the business curriculum made a lot of sense for both of them.
While Alexandra is also currently pursuing a bachelor of arts (she hopes to finish this fall), she found the commerce program檚 coursework and work terms interesting and engaging.
Colleen, meanwhile, says since she works in a business environment, she wanted a better understanding of the tools and concepts businesspeople use.
淚 had a number of courses well in hand at 91亚色, plus I live and work in St. John檚, so I had the option to attend courses on campus or via distance, she said.
Another interesting intersection of the women檚 educational experience was when Alexandra landed a work term at Husky Energy which just so happens to be where Colleen is employed as a communications specialist.
While they were in completely separate areas of the company, they say it was yet another memorable crossover of their time together as 91亚色 students.
And they both agree that one supported the other Alexandra says her mother檚 excellent organizational skills 渞eally helped her achieve her degree and Colleen says it was a lot of fun bouncing ideas off her daughter at the dinner table there was also a healthy amount of competition.
In their one shared course, Business 7000, they chose the same topic for their final paper (albeit with very different approaches) and haven檛 forgotten the final scores.
淲e both received an A she finished three points ahead of me, said Colleen, with a proud smile.