Christine Hudder is an Athabasca University Students’ Union Councillor living in Quadeville, Ontario. Hudder is a wife and the mother of her two boys, Corbyn and Atticus. She works as the Managing Editor for a weekly newspaper and volunteers with the 1st Madawaska Valley Scouts. Also, Hudder has earned several awards for her writing.
How did you originally find AU and what brought you to it?
I discovered AU in my third year of studies at Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario. While I was wrapping up my Journalism – Print and Broadcast program in 2009, my teacher informed me about a unique articulation agreement with Athabasca University. It would allow me to complete my university degree in Communications Studies online, which really interested me since I was hoping to start my career straight out of college. It took me several years to commit, but I am glad I did. I am now enrolled in the Communications Studies Program part-time and have 15 more courses to complete for my degree. I have two young boys at home and I am working full time, so completing my courses online is just the kind of flexibility that I need.
What is the last book you read?
My AU course textbook. Ha! Other than that, I am notoriously bad for buying new books and leaving them sit on my coffee table. I really am going to read them, someday. My husband jokes that I could open either a bookstore or a library.
Seriously, though, I actually just started reading How to Be a Bawse by Lilly Singh and it has some unique tips to become the person that you want to be in life. It’s so important, especially as women, that we stop with all that negative talk that we often tell ourselves and just go for what we want—no excuses. So far, I love it and I am trying to implement some of her suggestions into my day-to-day life.
What show do you think everyone should binge watch?
American Horror Story. Some seasons are better than others, but I’ll let you decide for yourself which ones are your favourites.
Why did you choose to run for AUSU council?
I chose to run for council because I worked in my college’s student council office and I saw how fun and rewarding being on student council could be. It was the perfect opportunity to learn about my unique university while fostering positive change. We need to ensure that our university is around for future generations—that others will have the opportunity to earn quality degrees while navigating this beautiful thing we call life. I also thought it would be interesting to connect with students from all over Canada (and beyond!) What a great way to make a lasting impact and meet some great new people along the way!
What are your academic goals for 2018?
Academically, I would like to complete at least two courses and maintain a 4.0 average. I am currently taking a light course load so that I can juggle being a mom of two, a councillor, a wife, a full-time employee, and a Scouts Canada volunteer. The last thing I want to do is burn out, so I am learning that it might take me a while to complete my program. But I am okay with that.
If you could have a meal with someone from history, who would it be?
Do I have to pick just one? We could make it into a dinner party! Okay, okay. If I just had to pick one person to have a meal with, I think it would be the great inventor Nikola Tesla. I am not a scientist by any means, nor am I skilled in the field of mathematics. I am not quite sure how I would keep up to his level of intellect, but I think it would be fascinating to pick his brain. Apparently, Tesla had a slew of other inventions that he was working on before he died. Wouldn’t it be amazing if he revealed some during dinner? Maybe he would have some answers on how to help this crazy world we live in, too.
What is one thing you would like to complete personally in 2018?
I would like to start eating healthier and establish a workout program—even if that means just going for a walk after supper with my family. I had my baby 10 months ago, so I think it’s time to focus on getting myself healthy. I can think of a hundred excuses to veg out and decompress in front of the television, but I want to ensure that I am healthy enough to keep up with my young boys. It’s so important.
Since being elected as a councillor (congratulations!), what are your hopes for the 2018-2020 term?
One of my hopes for the 2018-2020 term is that we find new and exciting ways to engage with our student membership. I’m in the Communications Studies program, so I want to take what I am learning and implement it! I want to work with AUSU’s Communications and Member Services Coordinator Donnette Kingyens and the Member Engagement and Communications Committee that I have been appointed to. I love our new app and it seems my fellow students do too. It’s a great place to discover what’s working and what obstacles students are facing in their studies. I’d love to figure out what else we could add to the app to help our student membership. I’d also like to build on our contests and see if we could increase student engagement by offering some unique prizes.
I am also appointed to the Awards Committee, so I want to ensure that students who are truly in need and are facing exceptional barriers to their education get the support that they need.
This council is full of amazing people, who are bursting at the seams with fresh new ideas. I can’t wait to see what the next two years bring, and I hope that students feel inspired to come to us with their concerns and ideas.