Sandra Moore spoke with Wanda Laurin at AU convocation:

AU GRADUATE PROFILE OF WANDA LAURIN

AGE: 45
LIVES IN: Peace River, AB
TRAVEL TIME TO ATHABASCA: 4 hours
PROGRAM COMPLETED: BA – French
YEARS IT TOOK TO COMPLETE: 14
FAVORITE COURSE: Geology 201 – The History Of The Earth
LEAST FAVORITE COURSE: “I can’t say I didn’t get into any course. I found it very serendipitous that I’d be taking a course that I really needed at that time in my life. But Geological Structures was a humdinger!”
FAVORITE TUTOR: Nicole Kunzle
HIGHEST FINAL GRADE: 100% on some essays
LOWEST FINAL GRADE: 52% in French literature

I met up with Wanda, her husband Paul and their children touring the science lab at AU on Convocation Day. Wanda says her family understood that she had course work to do and that she could get a little uptight when she was in the middle of an essay or studying for an exam. One of her daughters shared with me when asked how she felt about her mother going to school and said that she was a little upset her mom did not have as much time to play. Through obtaining a degree in French (while working part-time as a teacher), Wanda also passed her new knowledge onto her children and has succeeded in raising bi-lingual children.

She suggests to current AU students to set aside time each day to devote to studying and be strict with yourself, rewarding yourself with snacks!

Now that she is “so tickled pink to have accomplished this” she plans on taking piano lessons. “You guys know how to spoil us! I feel really pampered and excited to have come for this special occasion.”

Congratulations Wanda Laurin, B.A.

Look for more grad profiles in upcoming Voice issues. If you are an AU grad and you were not interviewed on convocation day, contact voice@ausu.org to be a part of AU profiles. As always, we are seeking undergrads, tutors and staff for profiles as well.