Health Science Degree through Open Learning

Before starting at Thompson Rivers University, I completed my Rehabilitation Assistant Diploma at Capilano University. I worked for a year as a rehabilitation assistant, and had a feeling that I was not quite done with my thirst for education just yet. This lead me to be admitted into the Health Science Degree through Open Learning. I wanted to have the option of doing my degree while continuing to work for financial reasons, and open learning allowed me to do just that. Adjusting to online education was tough at first, as I really enjoy a classroom setting. However, as time passed and I got used to that form of delivery, it got easier, and I really enjoyed the flexibility around it. With my diploma, I was already considered in the third year of this degree. I started it part time in 2019, doing anywhere from 1-3 courses depending on how heavy they were will full time work. It was not until this September, 2023 that I decided to take a 4 month leave from work to go full time and complete my degree. I am currently a full time student from home, doing 6 courses total with a mixed of paced and self-paced through Open Learning. Being a full time student at home definitely has its financial downfalls. But the positives are that it has allowed me to spend more time with my dog Luna, organize my days exactly as I want them, reduce my spending on gas, while providing flexibility with social events. Being able to do this degree from home has also been a huge positive in the sense that I don’t have to move away from my dog and fiancé to be a full time student. Our dog Luna is actually going to be having knee surgery in a couple weeks, and if I was not a full time student from home, I’m not sure how we would be able to care for her the way she will need to have a successful recovery from her surgery. Come end of December 2023, I will be able to say that I have a health science degree under my belt. I could have not done it without the option of online learning through Thompson Rivers University.