Our students come from every background, but share a goal: building a future on their own terms. Read how they did it, or add your voice and help someone else see what’s possible.
-
A healthy dose of humour and a mission to make students feel seen: How Matt leads student engagement at TRU
I’m passionate about helping learners achieve their goals through the power of flexible education, because life rarely pauses politely while we go back to school. Between careers, kids, caregiving, laundry mountains, and the occasional existential crisis, finding time to learn can feel like trying to schedule a meeting with a raccoon: complicated, slightly chaotic, yet…
-
More than just a number: How personal connections fuelled Amanda’s BTech journey
For many online students, the journey to a degree can feel like a solo marathon. But for Amanda, a 2023 Bachelor of Technology graduate, the path to her credential was paved with personal connections that made all the difference. “Having the same advisors throughout kept me engaged in completing my degree,” Amanda says. While many…
-
Why balance isn’t the goal: Marianna’s path to a degree with four kids and a full-time job
For Marianna Abutalipova, balance isn’t the goal. As a full-time TRU World Student Services Supervisor, mother of four (two of them teenagers with busy sports schedules), and a Bachelor of General Studies student through TRU Open Learning, she’s learned that something has to give. “Balance is not the right word here,” Marianna says. “We can’t…
-
How Open Learning helped Wesley land a higher-level public sector role
For Wesley, the road to career advancement wasn’t straightforward. After completing his Accounting Diploma at Douglas College, he quickly realized that not having an undergraduate degree was holding him back from landing higher-level positions in the public sector. “I honestly didn’t think I’d go back to school,” Wesley admits. “But when I started applying for…
-
Closing gaps, not pressing pause: Luke Kitching’s learning journey
While working full-time, Luke returned to school through TRU Open Learning’s Bachelor of Technology, Trades and Technology Leadership program. Balancing a busy family life, career, and personal interests, Luke found it challenging, but rewarding, to fit study time into his days. The online, self-paced courses in Open Learning made it possible. “The key to my…
-
A Journey of Growth and Leadership: My Path from Water Treatment to Management
From the very beginning of my journey in water and wastewater technology, I knew that this would be a path of constant learning, growth, and adaptation. As an international student with a deep passion for sustainability and technological innovation, my career has evolved into a unique blend of personal and professional experiences. These experiences have…
-
Open learning: my saving grace
Open learning helped me reach my educational goals. After a few setbacks, it was TRU OL that provided me with a program plan and a path to complete my degree. I ultimately graduated with a BA in Criminology with Distinction. That allowed me to apply to law school in Canada. I have now graduated from…
-
Teresa Penuliar – Return to Registered Nurse Practice Alumni
As an internationally educated nurse from the Philippines and a mother, achieving a balance between my career and personal life has been a significant challenge. However, TRU’s flexible online and distance learning programs have made a positive difference in my life. Completing the Return to Registered Nurse Practice Certificate at TRU has opened up endless…
-
TRU Alumni working at TRU
I moved to BC from Quebec when I was 19 after one year of college studies. I had visited BC when I was younger and had family still living there. Ten years later, after having 2 daughters, now aged 2 and 5-years-old, I thought it was time to go back to school. I lived in…
-
Studying Abroad
I started my online journey in January 2023 with TRU open learning. Currently enrolled in my second class, I was able to take my studies abroad and continue learning while in the UK. My partner had to travel there for work, so I tagged along for 2 weeks. While she was at work, I was…