September Brings Big Dreams and New Adventures

There's a crispness in the air, and the leaves are just starting to turn beautiful shades of orange and red. But it's the return of students that makes autumn our favourite season at Lakehead.

We want to extend a special welcome to our first-year students as they settle in at the Orillia and Thunder Bay campuses—and introduce a few of them and their aspirations for the future.

Name: Arianna Valley
Hometown: Port Elgin, Ontario
Program: Concurrent Education (English)

Arianna Valley (l) and her mother Jennifer (r)

"Getting out of the house and going somewhere new is what I find most exciting about starting university," says Arianna.

She and her family, including her aunt, drove to Lakehead's Thunder Bay campus. Many of her dad's relatives live in this area, giving Arianna a built-in support network.

But the real reason she chose Lakehead is because it's the alma mater of her favourite high school teacher, Bethany Boyd.

"Mrs. Boyd is the teacher you'd go to if you had a problem or wanted to talk to someone. And she'd let you sit in her classroom if you needed a quiet space."

Arianna also relies on the advice of her mother.

"I've told her to make lots of lifelong friendships, work hard, and don't procrastinate," says her mom, Jennifer."

Arianna already has a clear idea of what the future holds for her.

"I'd like to be a kindergarten teacher—I've always loved little kids. In grade six, I volunteered in kindergarten classrooms. Later, I did a co-op at a daycare, and I've volunteered at a therapeutic riding centre for children since grade 10."

Name: Anthony Wagaki
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing

 First-year nursing student Anthony Wagaki

Anthony is originally from Kenya, but he was living in Toronto when he decided to attend Lakehead. "It took 15 hours to drive to Thunder Bay, but the beautiful scenery was worth the long journey."

A friend of Anthony's who was already studying nursing at Lakehead encouraged him to come. "Then, when I looked into schools, I found that Lakehead is a top-ranked Canadian research university in a welcoming community. It's a serene place away from the noise of a big city."

Anthony has a very personal reason for studying nursing.

"Last year my 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed with diabetes. She was in a coma for 28 days, and I thought we would lose her. I was so inspired by the excellent care of the nurses who looked after her that I decided to become a pediatric nurse focusing on children with diabetes."

Anthony often turns to his grandmother when he's facing challenges or contemplating a new direction. "She always says that life is full of surprises and to be prepared, because anything can happen."

Name: Owen Dale
Hometown: St. Thomas, Ontario
Program: Concurrent Education (History)

Owen Dale (l) and his mother Amanda (r)

"The best thing about starting university is being on the varsity wrestling team," says Owen. "I've already had my first practice and met all the guys on the team."

Owen has wrestled since he was nine years old, and it was a former wrestling teammate who convinced him to go to Lakehead. "He gave me the rundown and said that he loved Lakehead. I met a bunch of the wrestlers up here, and they all seemed amazing."

Getting to Thunder Bay has been a family affair. "We rented an RV and camped along the way," Owen says.

"Both my parents helped me get to where I am today. My dad's been my wrestling coach since I was a kid, and my mom supported me getting here."

"I've told Owen to get involved, make friends, and leave a good mark everywhere he goes. And to make sure that he does his laundry," says his mom, Amanda.

Owen hopes to become a history teacher. "I had great experiences when I did a co-op at an elementary school and coached an elementary school wrestling team."