Hometown: Swan River, MB
Program: Civil Engineering Technology diploma
Renee Fayant grew up in Swan River, Manitoba, a pretty town not far from the Saskatchewan border. She moved to Saskatoon to attend school and stayed to work. After several years working in landscaping, Renee began exploring options for furthering her education.
“I chose the Civil Engineering Technology program at Sask Polytech because it was a shorter course and I could finish my diploma and start working more quickly,” the Métis student says. “I liked the hands-on, practical nature of the program and the lab work. I also appreciated the Indigenous Student Success Strategy staff.
”Since starting the Civil Engineering Technology program, Renee has made good use of student support, including the Indigenous advisors, tutoring, student awards, financial assistance, and library services. “I had a bit of an academic struggle at the start because it had been almost 10 years since I was in school. A little extra tutoring went a long way. Now, all is well,” she says.
A bigger obstacle was meeting people. “I moved away from my family, friends, and partner for the program. I was so nervous when I came to Moose Jaw that I avoided talking with teachers and classmates. Once I started talking with others, life became way easier,” Renee says.
Renee became more involved in campus life as she settled in, even agreeing to sit on the local Indigenous Strategy Committee, but her main focus is her studies. She hopes her diploma will open the door to her dream job as a civil engineering technologist for an environmental engineering company.