Article 8 – Reaching My Academic Goals During a Pandemic

Alexander Primrose

Why have I made up my mind to study at University College of the North (UCN)? I want to become a teacher one day! I want to give back my learning from UCN to any community that hires me by being the best teacher I can be for the youth. I want to show my future students that anything is possible if we make great efforts. UCN is the best choice for me as I have an Educational Assistant certificate from UCN and want to expand my studies into education. I want to become an English teacher, a Native Studies teacher, and a Gym teacher. I feel I can contribute more as an English teacher by helping students expand on their reading and writing skills. As a Native Studies teacher, I can expand on First Nations topics and traditions to ensure that First Nation cultures are never forgotten. Lastly, sports and fitness in my Gym classes will always be a priority by ensuring that everyone learns proper nutrition, healthy eating, and fitness habits. These are the main courses I would love to teach because I feel confident in helping Indigenous students with their learning and well-being.

As an adult student, I have a growing family of my own. My partner and I have a daughter and a new addition on the way this coming year. I have a vision for my future: to graduate from UCN, majoring in Native Studies and minoring in English. Then I will start my teaching career. I want to not only do this for myself but also to be a role model for my children and demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and adequately provide them with what they need throughout their lives. I am in my second year of University, trying to achieve my Three-year Bachelor of Arts program, and I hope to complete my fourth year Bachelor of Arts program in the process. After achieving all my goals, I will continue with UCN to go for my two-year Bachelor of Education After-Degree.

I started my UCN Chapter last year when I enrolled in the Kenanow Bachelor of Education Program, and I completed one teaching course and two bachelor of arts courses. I really enjoyed this program, but I wanted to lighten the load and focus on one degree for now. So, I switched into the Bachelor of Arts Program as I saw a great opportunity to excel in my education at UCN. Acquiring a Bachelor of Arts degree could offer many opportunities, including going into social work, becoming a retail business manager, or becoming a park and recreation director organizing sports and planning opportunities for children of all ages. I see myself perfect for becoming an educator as there is a lot of opportunities involved. I would love to have my four-year Bachelor of Arts degree while working as I see education as a great opportunity to have a great life, especially doing something I have a great passion for.

Taking a career with passion offers me the opportunity to educate a new generation of children while exploring their strengths and weaknesses. I am also a hockey coach heading into my third-year coaching in my community of Nelson House, and I would also love to give back to my community as an educator. I see sports as an excellent gateway to education and achieving one’s goals as a student-athlete. If you are a good student-athlete in high school, you will have a great opportunity to head to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). A division one scholarship in hockey guarantees four years of free education in the United States of America, even in the Canadian Universities four years of education if you as an athlete played four years in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), Québec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). I love coaching as it has similarities to teaching, and I use all of its tools that help me teach the game in a fun and proper way. Teaching hockey requires strategic thinking, a lot of discipline, and above all, patience.

I am close to achieving my degree in the three-year Bachelor of Arts program as I am in my second year of University. In Fall 2019, I took Introduction to Aboriginal Studies, Introduction to Sociology, and Introduction to Teaching. I am taking three courses this term: Introduction to Literature (ENG 1000), The Metis Nation, and University Writing. I am enjoying my learning time here at UCN and would love to further my education here at UCN as I think they have a wonderful online learning system during this current global pandemic. The online learning with teaching support is incredible. I have been able to get through difficult situations through online learning with the help of my instructors. After completing my goal of becoming an educator, I would love to keep furthering my education here at UCN by enrolling in the Business Administration program. My father has always been a good businessman, and I would love to have the chance to work with him.

I have been enjoying my time back in school, it is undoubtedly a grind, but I am doing this for my family and to better myself in this working world. School, I find, is an amazing pathway to anything you want in life, and I am so happy that I am working towards a better me with the education through UCN. Education would mean the world to me if I accomplished all the goals I have set for myself in University. I have already reached the finish line, and I could not be more excited to finish my education. I am so excited to become an English, Gym or Native Studies teacher.

My three years of coaching have been great. I have taught a lot to my hockey players, and I could not be any prouder for how far they have come. They have improved so much as I showed them proper off-season hockey workouts to enhance their ability to at a high level on the ice. This experience has made me feel confident in becoming an educator as I know I can help the education process. To have the arena as my classroom was an amazing time; skating at high speeds and executing fast-paced drills is no easy task for some individual hockey players. My goal is to properly teach skating and proper balancing to fully extract all the skater’s potential. It is such a cool process to see how far some of my players have come, from not knowing how to skate to becoming an excellent hockey player.

That is the best I can tell my story of coming to UCN and being in the university process. I am so excited to become an educator and hopefully earn a master’s degree in Bachelor of Arts and a master’s degree in education thanks to the educational opportunities UCN has offered so far. I cannot wait to achieve my goals and dreams of doing what I love doing. I am also proud of what I have accomplished as a coach, as well as happy to see my hard-working hockey students excel in the sport; they love me so very much as I love them.

Author’s Bio: Alexander Primrose is completing his Bachelor of Arts Program and later moving on to Bachelor of Education. He plans on becoming an educator in either middle school or high school. Alexander plans on teaching in Thompson after the completion of his university degrees. He is a father of two and devotes his life to raising good children in the process. He loves sports such as hockey, loves writing, and enjoys gaming. Alexander is a First Nations student from Nelson House, Manitoba, and is currently trying to learn his Cree language.

Alexander Primrose with his parents while attending a function in the mountains of Alberta. They are all from Nelson House, Manitoba. Alexander is grateful for his parents’ support in achieving his educational goals from UCN.

Instructor’s Remarks: Alexander Primrose was in my Introduction to Literature class (ENG 1000) in the fall of 2020. He enjoys the virtual lectures, participating in class discussion and voluntary readings for the class. In addition to his successful completion to this course, he also tells his story of “Coming to UCN for His Education” and his reflection on “Online Learning during the Pandemic.” His story tells us about his ambitions to become a great educator for his community. Although his laptops created problems for his studies during the term, he managed well with his cellphone to attend every virtual lecture for this course. Alexander’s stories are humble but encouraging. (Dr. Ying Kong)