By Angela Brown

Grads told to push through challenges at North West College ceremony

Jun 2, 2018 | 12:43 PM

Don’t let today’s troubles diminish your dreams for tomorrow.

That, in essence, was Saskatchewan Senator Lillian Dyck’s message when she addressed students in her commencement speech at North West College’s graduation ceremony in North Battleford, Friday. 

“Graduation is the beginning of something new,” said Dyck, following her presentation to around 180 students who graduated. “It’s a day of celebration.”

The member of the Canadian Senate said she hopes the graduating class will be “open to all the opportunities that come, to dream big and be bold, and step up to whatever comes their way.

“Even though it seems like it is beyond what they think they can do, they should go ahead and do it. Don’t be afraid,” she said.

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Born in North Battleford, Dyck is the first female First Nations senator and the first Canadian-born Chinese senator. Among her significant achievements, Dyck has a PhD in Biological Psychiatry from the University of Saskatchewan.

During the ceremony, she shared some of her experiences about the difficult start she had in life, and how she worked to pursue her goals and achieve success despite the obstacles in her path.

“I talked about who I was – coming from a Cree-Chinese background,” she said. 

Dyck said she grew up in poverty but knew by pursuing advanced education she could ensure a better future for herself. She said by the time she graduated from high school both her parents had passed away, leaving her adrift in the world.

“So I really had to do something,” she said.

Dyck credited the high school she attended for encouraging its students to go on to university.  She said often times when people come from a background where no one in their family has obtained an advanced education, it doesn’t occur to them that they could go to university.

“I was very fortunate that I was in a high school that was pushing everybody to go,” Dyck said. “I was also very lucky that I was a very bright student.” 

Students’ success 

North West College Interim CEO and President Melanie Roberts said staff at the college look forward to graduation day to see the students rewarded for the hard work and effort they put in to complete their programs.

It was a moving time for many students taking in the commencement ceremony as well.

One of the students spoke to the graduating class about his experience going back to school as an older adult and encouraged others to follow his lead.

He said a teacher once told him “you can do this.” And he did.    

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow