May 5, 2005 - 5:00pm
A budding lawyer, a city planner and a female athelete delivered powerful and inspiring messages to over 1,000 high school students who gathered at Malaspina University-College’s Open House Wednesday (May 4) in Nanaimo.
"You can be anything you want to be," Malaspina graduate Cleo Corbett told high school students. "Exploit every opportunity that comes your way and be prepared to make sacrifices."
Corbett graduated last year from Malaspina’s Tourism and Recreation Management degree program and now operates her own business called "Shine On Consulting." She works as a city planner in Tofino.
Malaspina grad and law student Stephen Littley is articling at Hobbs Hargrave Barristers and Solicitors in Nanaimo, while graduate Danielle Gaudet works as a Gym Attendant for Malaspina University-College's Student Services. Gaudet, also assistant coach for the Mariner's women's volleyball team, is the only athlete in Canada ever to win the "All Canadian Title" awarded by the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association all four years she played volleyball for Malaspina.
"We invited these stellar Malaspina graduates to share their enthusiasm for life and learning, and the secrets of their success with current high school students," explained Lynne MacFadgen, who organized the Open House with Pam Lewis of Malaspina’s community and school liaison team. "Our goal is to stimulate high school students into thinking about their future plans for post-secondary education."
Corbett told students she "had no idea" what she wanted to do after graduating from Nanaimo District Secondary School in 1996. Her parents encouraged her to attend university so she enrolled in chemistry, music, anthropology, English and computer courses at Malaspina "but I didn’t feel passionate about it," she said.
Corbett left school and taught skiing and snowboarding lessons in Banff, and spent one summer working for B.C. Ferries.
"I was making good money but I knew there was something more," she said.
Corbett returned to Malaspina and enrolled in the Tourism and Recreation Management degree program. "I absolutely loved it and for the first time in my life, I started getting straight A’s. My parents nearly fell over, especially when I made the Dean’s list."
Corbett joined various clubs and organizations on campus and took advantage of travel abroad opportunities available to Malaspina students. Before graduating, she gained valuable work experience through co-operative education summer job placements as an events coordinator for a golf course at Long Beach, as a marketing manager for a safari company in Uganda, and as a planning assistant in Ucluelet. Corbett also participated in a field school in Costa Rica.
"Co-op education makes you totally employable after graduation," she said. "As a student, you have to be willing to step outside of your comfort zone, take advantage opportunities and make sacrifices."
Corbett worked for $1 a day in Uganda, relied on a food bank to make ends meet and moved home with her parents to save money. "I knew all these things would help me move forward towards getting my degree," she said.
The co-op placement in Ucluelet led Corbett and fellow Malaspina Tourism grad Rochelle Lewis to form their own consulting company. Their first contract was developing a community profile for the Ucluelet Economic Development Corporation. From there, they were hired to run the planning department while the director took a month long vacation. This year, they were hired to run the planning department in Tofino.
"We handle rezoning and development permit applications, subdivision approvals and long-term planning," explained Corbett. "My favourite part of the job is negotiating with developers to gain amenities for the community. So far, we've got commitments for over half a million dollars worth of public walkways on the waterfront, staff housing and cash for community projects. Our efforts are working.
"We’re networking, meeting tons of people, making a name for ourselves, running our own company and making people’s lives better - all this after only graduating from Malaspina last year."
Corbett summed up her experience at Malaspina as "awesome. There are fabulous teachers, incredible student support and great class sizes," she said.
Littley echoed Corbett’s sentiments. After dropping out of high school, he enrolled in Malaspina’s Adult Basic Education program. Littley earned a high school diploma, and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a double major in Psychology and Anthropology in 2001. He entered law school at the University of B.C. and completed a Master’s degree in Anthropology at Simon Fraser University at the same time. Littley is currently articling with Nanaimo law firm Hobbs Hargrave Barristers and Solicitors. Once he is called to the bar, he hopes to find permanent employment in Nanaimo.
"Malaspina has excellent programs for students and a great, caring faculty who are professionals in their chosen fields," said Littley. "When you attend Malaspina, you get the total package - an excellent, well-rounded education."
Littley also took advantage of international study abroad programs and co-operative education placements available to Malaspina students. He participated in field schools in India, Malaysia, Thailand and Bali.
Malaspina grad Danielle Gaudet added her own advice to high school students: "Don't be afraid to try new things. Never give up. Just do what you love doing."
Tags: In the Community
