Hometown/Band: Pasqua First Nations
Program: Office Administration certificate
Trinity Caplette had been out of high school for almost 10 years when she decided to pursue post-secondary education. She chose the Office Administration program because a co-worker had taken it the previous year. “She was someone I looked up to,” Trinity says, “so I followed in her footsteps.”
Trinity describes her first semester at Sask Polytech as a shock to the system. “Taking seven classes while raising a family and trying to work was nearly impossible. I spent a lot of nights wondering if I made the right choice,” she says.
“But I am so glad I stuck it out. All the long nights of studying and having to work are completely worth it. I may have had to sacrifice family time, but it’s a small price to pay to land a job above minimum wage.”
Trinity reached out to student services for support, using tutors, meeting with counselors, and talking with the Indigenous student advisor. “Knowing I’m not alone, that I have people in my corner gave me real peace of mind,” the First Nations woman says. “Just having someone listen was a weight off my shoulders.”
Trinity shares her best advice for making it through those first weeks of classes. “Don’t stress over the small things. Don’t give up, the feeling of stress won’t last forever,” she says. “Before you know it, you’ll be walking down the stage receiving the certificate you worked so hard for.”