Minds We Meet – Interviewing Students Like You!


Veronique “Ronnie” St. Germain-Wiwchar wanted to earn a psychology degree. So is working toward a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Psychology. She found AU through a doctor, when she was going through a difficult time. She wanted something to work towards, so decided on becoming a psychologist or psychiatrist to help people.

What do you do like to do when You’re not studying?
Usually, I am hanging out with my friends. It depends. I usually tend to stay pretty busy or go and travel.

What famous person, past or present, would you like to have lunch with, and why?
Freud would be interesting, to see how he started ? like how he got his mind towards psychology and figuring out the things he did. He’s probably the biggest, but not the weirdest.

Skinner was probably the weirdest.

What would the meal be with Freud?
I think something they haven’t probably had. Something that has some around, recently. It would be cool to see their opinions on how much things have changed.

Who in your life had the greatest influence on your desire to learn?
Probably, my dad. He didn’t think I’d actually be able to do it.

It’s like “Ha! I’m doing it!”

Describe your experience with online learning. What do you like or dislike?
I like that you can do it at anytime. That you can start at anytime, and that it is more catered to you as you get time. The hard part would be no people.

Have you had a time when you wavered about your education?
It took me about a year, year-and-a-half, to get onto it. It took me awhile to find out where I wanted to live.

What was your most memorable AU course?
Probably Psychology 289: Psychology as a Natural Science. It is the one everyone wants to take when they want to start psychology. You have to go through quite a bit of memorizing to understand, and what you understand you can go in 5 or 6 different directions.

What is most valuable thing in life to you?
It sounds funny, but my cat.

I moved into my own place, so they’re my support system. Is it a crazy person? No! It is sort of like family.

What have you given up to go to AU that you regret the most? Was it worth it?
Probably relationship with my sister because she is doing school as well. It is through a different college online. She has until 2022 to finish her course.

What’s the single best thing AU could do to improve your student experience?
I think having these study groups where they can meet up if they want to.

What is the most important lesson in life?
Not to give up, things might get hard and difficult, but it is possible to get through them.

What’s something people don’t know about you?
That I’m not actually as strong as I look.

E-texts or textbooks? Any particular reason(s)?
Textbooks because I prefer books, actual books.

How do you find the tutors?
It sometimes takes time for them to get back to you.

Where has life taken you so far? (travels for pleasure, work, etc.)
I have been over to France and to Europe, and I spent a lot of time in BC. I’ve got a family out there. We went down to the United States. We drove out to California.

What (non-AU) book are you reading now?
Currently, it is Jodi Picoult, Small Great Things.