Hometown: La Ronge
Program: Dental Hygiene
Campus: Regina
“Never give up. You belong here. It will all be worth it.”
The road to becoming a dental hygienist has been anything but easy for Jennifer Tonn. Moving over seven hours from her northern hometown to Regina meant leaving her family, friends and support system behind. It was lonely and financial stress added to the challenge. “Every time I felt like I could catch up, life threw another curve ball at me,” she says.
Through it all, she leaned on campus supports like counselling, emergency bursaries and the Indigenous Students' Centre, a space she calls her home away from home. “It’s a place where I can be myself while embracing my culture.” The centre helped create many fond memories throughout her time studying at Sask Polytech.
Despite hardships, Jennifer never lost sight of her goal of returning to La Ronge to work for her people. She plans to join Lac La Ronge Indian Band Health Services, offering dental care and bridging gaps between Indigenous communities and western medicine.
Her advice? “Ask for help sooner. Set aside pride and accept support. You’re here for a reason—remember that and run with it.”
