A Lethbridge College student is learning the balance of motherhood, studies and volunteering , all while advancing herself personally and professionally.
Megan-Tania Jones said after returning to school from a seven-year break, she moved her life from Yellowknife, NWT with her son to Lethbridge College.
After applying to college on a whim, she said she didn’t expect to actually get accepted. Jones began classes in the Health Care Aide program the following semester. Now, after gaining her Heath Care Aid Certificate, she is working to complete her electives for nursing.
Jones said she wanted to find a way to make friends and build strong relations throughout the college with as many people as possible.
By pushing herself out of her comfort zone, she said it made her more confident and guided her to build connections with students, staff, faculty and the community.
Juggling the responsibility of Paxton, her three-year-old son and academics, while wanting to maintain a social life, led her to join the Simulated Patient Health Environment for Research and Education’s (SPHERE) Student Crew.
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This is a student-led volunteer initiate allowing participants to receiving training in naloxone, sexual abuse/assault and more. The crew also gets to act in scenarios used by various programs throughout the college for realistic learning experiences such as mock disasters.
According to Marie Laenen, a Lethbridge College SPHERE instructor, the bond formed between participants of Student Crew and instructors is unique and heavy because of the collaborative work and involvement from both parties.
This type of growth is something Jones hopes every student can experience.
“There are students that do feel alone and aren’t able to make those connections, so if I can help at least one student to feel more comfortable, then I’ve done my job,” she said.
According to Jones, anywhere volunteers are needed on campus, she can be found.
She explained when she started at Student Crew, she was doing laundry and data entry to get a stepping stone into volunteering. Although with the crew, Jones was been able to grow even more personally and professionally than she hoped.
Laenen said when Jones first began with SPHERE, she was shy and apprehensive, but for anyone who knows Jones now, would see she is the complete opposite.
“She illuminates kindness, compassion and a real welcoming sense. Having Megan there to just smile with students makes a big difference,” Laenen said.
While balancing school, volunteering and her son, Jones’ day-to-day schedule looks “far from normal.” She said her usual day consists of getting dressed, fed and out the door to the school to drop off Paxton at daycare and for Jones to get to class. Outside of class, the majority of her time is spent volunteering and tutoring until it’s time to go home.
“I’m a very vocal person, so if I can fill my day with that then I’m set,” Jones said.
However, being a role model is more than just her involvement on campus. She said her son’s additional set of eyes watching her encourages to be the best version of herself. She hopes he will be able to follow in her footsteps and be more involved as he grows older.
Jones said her biggest goal is to continue to connect with people no matter, how big or small and leave them feeling impacted.
