The Voice Magazine recently had a chance to chat with Paige Loggie (she/her), a Bachelor of Arts student with a double major in Anthropology and Psychology, living in Snow Lake, Manitoba. (On a personal note, although Paige currently lives in this northern Manitoba town, she was born in the nearby mining town of Flin Flon, Manitoba.)
Paige acknowledged, “In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, I commit to honoring the histories, cultures, and ongoing relationships with the Cree, Anishinaabe, Oji-Cree, Dene, and Dakota. I acknowledge the land on which I live on is located within the Traditional Territory of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation and Metis Nation respectfully. This region where I stand is protected by Treaty 5 signed in 1875 and the Manitoba Act of 1870. I will always support, as I am of the Swampy Cree, the ongoing relationship with these lands, while supporting Indigenous Sovereignty and self-determination.”
Paige had some great study tips for fellow AU students. “I study best by creating goals for myself.” She continued, “I will set a certain date and time to have a lesson completed and I try to reach that goal as best I can!”
She also had some solid advice for new students and/or prospective students. “If you can start early, do it, because you will be ahead and that saves more time for a personal life. Orientation can take a bit more time to complete so if you can get through that before your official classes begin, you save time, which is key to your success.”
When she is not studying, she enjoys watching “entertaining documentaries and gossip channels,” socializing, and spending time with her family. She also enjoys reading and had a detailed answer about which books have impacted her life. She mentioned The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein, which “tells the story of how certain events, which may seem catastrophic in nature, could be by design. You will either become a conspiracy theorist or a truth seeker by the end of it. It discusses ‘how leadership isn’t always leading for the right purposes,’ but who am I to judge? It allows you to evaluate yourself and your place amongst the higher aims of larger entities vying for your attention.”
She also mentioned, “I would love to get my hands on Whitney Webb’s One Nation Under Blackmail.” Mentioning how she loves these types of books “because it is two females who have looked into the past and seen a pattern of behavior within our global society and how people can learn to safely navigate life, while remaining aware and informed. I do not say I align with their personal politics, but I do love the fact that they poured their heart and soul into telling the truth as they see it.”
She elaborated, “I am Swampy Cree and have my Treaty Status only due to the fact that the politics of the day when I went to sign up for it had asked me to protest against the unfair treatment of the First Nations people, while still protected under UNDRIP. So it amazes me the lines we draw at balancing our collective wellbeing to the collective harms we co-create by our differences in culture.”
Paige had an interesting answer when asked about who in her life had the greatest influence on her desire to learn. “Ultimately, I always had a passion for learning,” she stated. “[G]rowing up, I was known as an old soul and knew the scientific names of dinosaurs before I went to kindergarten, so it was a natural progression, almost as if I was reincarnated and had known the world before I knew it, if that makes sense to you. If I had to name someone else; I would say a French immersion teacher who lived in my apartment building as a kid.” She continued, “Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, though I met him in Toronto, he is a ‘protect your energy’ statured kind of person, his research has been integral to my love of human history. Lastly, Carl Gustav Jung, he is, in my world view, the leading psychologist who has single handedly crafted modern thought and, in fact, modern day marketing.”
As for her experience with online learning so far? “Online learning has allowed me to be home with my family and be able to support their needs while I look after my own. Seeing as this is my first year as an undergrad, I haven’t found any dislikes, because I am able to live and work freely and independently, that suits me just fine!”
As for communication with her course tutors? “I love my tutors! I received a lovely welcome card in the mail from my Anthropology Tutor Dr. Laurie Milne, and I was so happy to receive something so unexpected! I can tell that Athabasca has created a warm welcome and a caring environment so students can thrive after being so surprised!”
The Voice Magazine also asked Paige what her first project would be if she were the new president of AU. She stated, “I would streamline the social spaces. I never knew there were so many apps that I needed to be a part of, plus there is a forum.” She continued, “I understand why, but when in this day and age we have other forms of social media, perhaps having a regulated space in places like those would save time and less confusion, but I’m an older mature student so keeping up with technology is or has for me always been a struggle.”
We also asked Paige which famous person, past or present, she would like to have lunch with, and why. She mentioned, “I would like to have lunch with the original members of The Smashing Pumpkins, Tool, and Alex and Allison Grey! I would have invited them over for dinner and asked them what they wanted to have ahead of time, so I can properly prep their favorite dishes!”
She continued, “It would be a dream to be able to sit across from artists who have helped to form the colors of my imagination and the freedom of my mind.” Paige had a chance to meet “Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin during an interview with Jon Strombolopolus” and was able to attend “one of the last concerts before they broke up.” “I’ve seen Tool and APC (early years) in concert many times and have actually been to an artist event with Alex and Allison Grey and watched them paint until the next morning. I would love to be in that space again, they are so powerful and influential and allow you to live empowered and expressive!”
She also told us about her most valuable lesson learned in life. “I have not lived long enough to be able to tell you the most valuable lesson learned in life, but I will tell you this. No one knows your life story more than you do. There will be people who will have plenty to say about the life you lead, but they will never hold a candle to your very spirit that stands before them. There will be those who support you and there will be those who seek to tear you down. Embrace those who support you and those who seek to tear you down will fall away, the Creator, the Universe and all that matters to you will remember how they tried and failed. I have lived a rich life, a poor life, a life with trauma, and a life free of it. Experience it all, as there you will find so much of your worth within it, no one can take your experiences and self worth from you.”
On a final note, Paige added, “I am happy to spend time discussing topics that help the world evolve and help our people live in a holistic way. I am hoping to move forward and support the industry of mental health so that anyone experiencing trauma or life events which may have negatively shaped them can be healed or overcome in some way.” She continued, “My student experience thus far as an undergraduate is only just beginning.” “I cannot wait to see what happens in the future and I hope my studies and future with Athabasca University supports that childhood dream I’ve had and allows for me to be a voice so the voiceless can strengthen and build a world that brings prosperity, reconciliation, and peace.” Best of luck, Paige!
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!