Name: Jacqueline Poier

What province and city/town do you live in?

Didsbury, Alberta

Do you have a family/ kids/ pets?

Single mom, 2 girls, 3 & 5; 1 dog (black lab, very big) 3 cats and 2 fish

What are your hobbies / interests/ activities/ etc.

Skiing and reading. Criminology fascinates me, specifically serial killers from a purely psychological aspect. Since becoming full time at AU I have no activities anymore.

I love to read and teach my kids, although I admit I’m not really into Barbie. My biggest hobby or stress reliever is fixing cars or trucks. I am quite an efficient mechanic for a female.

Can you tell us about the AU Courses you are taking at the moment, or a favourite course?

I am enrolled in the Bachelor of Management program, which I just started. I chose AU for a lot of reasons, but mostly the very open interaction on the Web site, the ease of choosing a course and program, the fact that I almost always get an instant response. I am currently taking Admin. 232, which is somewhat interesting. My Psyc 395 is very easy and interesting, given it has been an interest of mine for many years, although I am stressed out about writing a research paper.

I was an accountant for 12 years prior to having children, and when I divorced I realized I needed to do something with my life. I was originally thinking of moving home to Edmonton to go to the U of A, but after a great deal of research decided that AU was my BEST choice for so many reasons. It allows me the flexibility to still be a full time single mom; I stay home with them, which is very important, and I am a full time student. Although it is difficult to balance both, (I get up at 4:30 a.m. every day) it is worth it. My ACCT 250 was supposed to challenge me and my COMP 200 scares me, so I haven’t started it yet.

How long have you been a student? (And where)

Since January this year and I attend Calgary branch when needed.

What do you think of your courses/ the AU experience/ distance education?

I think that AU has the unfortunate stigma of being a correspondence school. However it is so NOT. Distance education has a great deal of benefits that contemporary students don’t have. I am so happy that I chose AU, and am encouraging my friends to take courses. The tutor-student relationship is awesome, and like I said before, I always get helpful, immediate responses to my questions. You can’t get that at the U of A or U of C.

I am not a Student ID number, I feel like a member of a family.

Do you work? What do you do?

I used to be employed outside the home, now I am employed inside the home since my children have been born. It is unfortunate that I had to get divorced to finally be “paid” for my work, however. If you have never done it, don’t criticise it. I DO WORK.

How is AU helping you toward your goals?

Absolutely, my goals of self-sufficiency in a career that I have always wanted. In fact, the program outlines at AU helped me finally get off the fence and MAKE some concrete goals. This program is exactly what I want, and I don’t know if I would get that at another university.

What are your future goals?

Get through the next three years, to the best of my ability, and to recruit more of my friends to do this.

Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for other students?

Napping is not overrated. When we speak we hear, when we read we learn, and when we write we know. Keep yourself focused, and your goals posted for the times when lack of motivation can get the better of you. Don’t ever think you are too old, at 33 it has been 16 years since high school, and although it takes a little longer, you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Anything else we should know? Funny stories about the dog eating your laptop/ praise for AU, a friend or a tutor?

Nothing other than I can not emphasize enough how glad I am to have chosen the right University to guide my future. I know I won’t look back with regret like some of my friends that felt they did not make the right choices in their education and campus.

The only funny note: I am maybe one of just a few whose textbooks are covered in sticky stuff of an unknown formulation, and lots of crayons.

Thanks, Jacqueline, for a great profile and the wonderful pictures. We wish you the best of luck with that first research paper!

Anyone interested in being featured in AU Profiles should email The Voice atvoice@ausu.org Many thanks for your participation and readership!