The Voice Magazine recently had a chance to chat with Tammy Monro (she/they), a Bachelor of Arts major in Psychology student from Grand Prairie, Alberta. Tammy stated, “I would like to recognize that the land that I live, work, and play on is located on Treaty 8 and Metis district 13. I am grateful for the opportunities provided to me by these lands and honour the knowledge and wisdom of the Beaver, Cree, Dene, and Métis people as the original caretakers of these lands.”
Post–graduation, her “long-term goal … is to eventually pursue a Master’s degree in Psychology and work as a trauma therapist or bereavement therapist.” She continued, “These are two areas that I have a lot of passion and experience, but also areas where we see a lot of gaps in services.”
On a personal note, Tammy let us know, “I am a 38-year-old wife and mom of two teenagers from Northern Alberta. I currently work in suicide prevention where I have the honour and privilege to raise awareness around mental health and suicide as well as help build the capacity of my community to support those who are experiencing some of their darkest days. This is where I find my greatest inspiration and passion, and it is what has allowed me to continue this work for over 15 years.”
She had some great study tips for fellow AU learners. “I am the type of person who requires lists, deadlines, and loads of calendar reminders. I take time at the start of each course to review and create my own schedule that works with my timelines and learning style and I add that schedule into my calendar as a frequent reminder.”
She also had some advice for new students and/or prospective students. “It is important to adapt the course material and schedules to meet your own needs. While the suggested timelines and schedules are wonderful and work for some, it is ok to recognize that it may not work for you and your life. Ultimately you are in charge of your learning experience.”
When she is not studying, Tammy “like[s] to volunteer [her] time to the community.” She continued, “I currently volunteer with Victim Services as well as a number of community advisory and advocacy groups. When I am taking a break for volunteering, I like to spent time with my family and play video games or board games together or walking with my dogs.”
As for her experience with online learning so far? “Online and distance learning is a wonderful alternative for me as a busy person. I appreciate the ability to mold and adapt the courses to fit my life and learning style. The downside is that it can be difficult to build connections with fellow students and getting course support can take a bit of time when only dealing with emails or limited tutor availability.” Best of luck, Tammy!
At times, in an online learning environment, it can feel like you are all alone, but across the nation and around the globe, students just like you are also pursuing their Athabasca University (AU) studies! Each week, The Voice Magazine will be bringing you some of these stories. If you would like to be featured next, do not hesitate to get in touch!