Stephanie Wieler is an AU student from Calgary AB. She has completed her University Certificate in Human Resources and Labour Relations which she will be using to gain entry into the Bachelor of Professional Arts?Communications program.
The Voice Magazine recently interviewed Stephanie by e-mail, and here’s what she had to say about school, exhaustion, and teleportation.
First of all, whereabouts do you live? And have you always lived there?
I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. A lot of people are surprised to hear that there are people living in Calgary who were born and raised here!
If you work, describe what you do.
Aside from being a fulltime mother to an almost 2 year old and a 6 year old by day, by night I work graveyard shifts as a contact center agent. In between, I somehow manage to get school done from there.
Describe the path that led you to AU.
Prior to starting at AU, I had worked a few different administrative jobs. However, I found that although I do well in administrative roles, I wanted to do something more.
What do you do like to do when You’re not studying?
When I am not studying, working, or watching my kids, I am binge watching Netflix or going to the gym!
Who in your life had the greatest influence on your desire to learn?
My mom has always been a hard worker raising three kids by herself. I think that she is the one who inspires me to want to learn and work hard to reach my goals.
What famous person, past or present, would you like to have lunch with, and why?
If I were to have lunch with a famous person it would be Jesus Christ. I’d have so many questions to ask!
Describe your experience with online learning. What do you like? Dislike?
I love the flexibility of online learning, I wouldn’t be able to do it any other way. My one dislike is e-texts. I have a hard time staying focused if I am reading my textbook online?before I know it I am scrolling down my Facebook newsfeed.
Have you had a time when you wavered about your education?
There have been many times that I wavered about my education, especially because I am constantly so exhausted. However, I remind myself that everything will pay off in the end.
What was your most memorable AU course?
I think PSYC 305, Career Development Portfolio, was my most memorable course thus far. There were a lot of questions that this course asked that I had never thought to consider in my career path.
If you won $20 million in a lottery, what would you do with it?
I would finish my degree, pay off my debts, go on a nice vacation, and buy my dream home!
What have you given up to go to AU that you regret the most? Was it worth it?
Free time! I have an extremely busy life with work, kids and my studies, and I find I don’t have time for anything else. While it doesn’t seem worth it at times, I know in the long run I will be glad that I did it.
If you were the new president of AU, what would be your first project?
I think I would get to know and build a relationship with the students. To be completely honest, I don’t even know who the president of AU is?
If you could wake up tomorrow with a “superpower”, which one would it be?
My super power would be teleportation so I can go anywhere! For instance, instead of studying at my desk, I’d just teleport myself and study on the beach!
What is your most prized possession?
My most prized “possession” would be my family!
Please tell us something that few people know about you.
I have an irrational fear of being the passenger in a car.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in life?
I think that the most valuable lesson I have in life is to never take the easy way out. Work hard and the results will follow.
What do you think about e-texts?
I find it harder to focus when I have to read chapters online. Also, I get kind of frustrated that I am paying for “textbooks” but am only getting e-texts for some courses.
How do you find communications with your course tutors?
I haven’t had to reach out to tutors too often, but the times that I have I feel like they responded fairly quickly and were definitely helpful.
Where has life taken you so far?
Life has been very busy for me but I am lucky to have gotten to travel to Mexico twice, California once and in just a few short weeks, I will be reading books on the beach in the Dominican!
What (non-AU) book are you reading now?
I wish I had time to read books other than textbooks?or e-texts.
