Megan Cooper resides in Sherwood Park, Alberta and is currently enrolled in a Psychology Major for her Bachelor of Arts.  She hopes to eventually be an acute care registered nurse.  This is her story. 

Could you provide us a bit of a background? Whoa re you, where are you from?

My name is Megan Cooper and I taking a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Psychology program.  I reside in Sherwood Park, Alberta and compete in show jumping throughout Spring and Summer.

Describe the path that led you to AU.  What was it that made you realize you wanted to go back to school, and what pushed you into the program you’ve signed up for?

I always knew I wanted to go to university and Athabasca University allowed me the flexibility to train for show jumping as well as work, on top of school.

Any advice for people who are on the fence about going back to school?

My advice for anyone considering going back to school is to do it! Education is never a waste of time.

What do you do like to do when you’re not studying? Any hobbies?

When I’m not studying, I am working or riding my horse.  Outside those three activities I do not usually have time for anything else!

What are your plans for this education once you finish? What would be your dream job?

I am hoping to eventually enroll in a Bachelor of Science, Registered Nursing program.  Working as an acute care Registered Nurse is my dream job.

Who in your life had the greatest influence on your desire to learn?

My mom has the greatest influence on my desire to learn.  She has always been extremely supportive in my educational journey.

Describe your experience with online learning so far.  What do you like?

I like online learning because of the flexibility it allows to be able to continue other aspects of life, such as work, sports, etc.

What do you dislike about it?

I dislike online learning because it can be extremely difficult to stay on track and not procrastinate, as you do not have someone monitoring your progress on a day-by-day basis.

What’s your favorite AU course that you have taken so far, and why?

So far my favorite class was PSYC 435 (Abnormal Psychology).  I found the content very intriguing and the workload wasn’t too heavy.

Would you recommend the course to others?

I would definitely recommend PSYC 435 to anyone that has an interest in Clinical Psychology to take this course!

What have you given up to go to AU that you regret the most? Was it worth it?

I definitely miss the classroom atmosphere.  However, there are awesome support groups that you can join to connect with other students whom are always very supportive of each other, such as the mobile app, Facebook groups, and skype groups.

How do you find communications with your course tutors?

I have been very lucky that almost all of my tutors have been very quick at responding and seem genuinely happy to answer any and all questions I may have had.

What is your biggest pet peeve, if you have one?

Disorganization.  I hate when things are messy and disorganized in a study space.

What famous person, past or present, would you like to have lunch with, and why?

Having lunch with someone, such as Bill Gates, would be cool because he was not always successful, but he never gave up and now is one of the most successful men in the world! I think it would be interesting to see how he dealt with his failures to better himself and make himself into such a success.

Could you describe the proudest moment in your life?

I think the proudest moment in my academic career would be receiving my first A+ in University.  As for the proudest moment in my life, I think that is still yet to come!

Describe one thing that distinguishes you from most other people.

One thing that distinguishes me most from other people is my work ethic and dedication.  I work part-time, train/compete in show jumping full-time in Spring/Summer and am enrolled in full-time school.  It’s an intense amount of work that doesn’t allow for much of a social life at times, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in life?

The most valuable thing I have learned is that life doesn’t go the way you plan so you cannot get too caught up in planning the future.  I think it is important to have an idea of where you are going and what you want in life, but you also need to be flexible and you have to take whatever life throws at you.  It is important to always try and see the positive side of things and realize that everything happens for a reason, even if that reason is beyond our comprehension.

Have you traveled? Where has life taken you so far?

I have had the luxury of travelling internationally many times throughout my life.  A few of the places I have traveled to include Australia, New Zealand, Paris, Hong Kong, and Orlando.

Out of the places you have been to, which was your favorite and why?

I do not have a favorite place, but I do hope that my future endeavors will lead me to Italy and Greece (and anywhere else that is warm and beautiful!).

What (non-AU) book are you reading now?

Unfortunately, with the course and work load I have at this time, I do not have enough free time to read anything other than my textbooks.  So, I guess my favorite book at this moment would be Child Development from PSYC 323 (Developmental Psychology).