Holly Johnson is seated on the couch reading a book in the Indigenous Student Centre lounge. She feels welcome in the Centre and comes here often.
Out the window behind her is the Law building where she鈥檒l be attending classes for her minor in Law, Justice and Society.
鈥淚鈥檝e always enjoyed thinking about justice and law and standing up for the little guy and it complements my prior learning and experiences,鈥� she says.
Exploring her options
She talks about how much she wants to do while at Dal. In addition to the minor, Holly is currently working toward a major in English but she鈥檚 considering Social Work, either in addition to or after her current degree.
鈥淚 haven't really figured out whether I'll get my BA and my BSW. We'll see how that works. If it means I'm going to be in school forever,鈥� she laughs, 鈥淚 might have to make a choice. I'm not sure which one I want to complete first.鈥�
Holly is motivated by her desire to help others and she鈥檇 like to weave the perspective she鈥檚 gained from years of experience volunteering with not-for-profit organizations into her university degree. In the meantime, she鈥檚 happy she can continue lending a hand while on campus.
鈥淚 just really believe in helping out and there are a lot of organizations through Dal that I can help out with. It makes you a more well-rounded person when you can get into some of those things but it鈥檚 understandable if you can't, there's a lot to be done at university.鈥�
Holly says her profs have been very supportive and she鈥檚 glad they鈥檙e challenging her to push herself, mentioning one particular English prof "who is really encourging... his guidance is essential to my learning."
A different perspective
As an older student, Holly says her university experience is somewhat different. She says being surrounded by so many younger students helps to keep her young but she also sees opportunities that could ensure older students feel even more welcome on campus.
鈥淚'm always thinking about how I can help out in a way that includes everybody,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat said, the thing I love about Dal is that they're always trying to make it great for everybody not just one particular demographic.鈥�
Now that she鈥檚 in the second year of her degree, Holly is starting to feel more comfortable with the routine and has begun looking around at other things that interest her on campus. She鈥檇 like to explore her love of athletics, for a start.
Discovering community
She鈥檚 also become a regular at the Indigenous Student Centre. In addition to a quiet place to study, Holly feels a sense of community in the space and is eager to learn more about the Indigenous part of her heritage.
鈥淚 can't say enough about Michelle Graveline [the Indigenous student advisor]. She鈥檚 so accommodating to students, faculty and staff,鈥� Holly says. 鈥淚 come here to study, relax, print stuff, work on the computer, and I鈥檓 also able to talk about issues related to Indigenous culture. I'm not fully knowledgeable about that side of my culture but I'm trying to learn by asking and observing.
Holly also enjoys taking part in the monthly Friday Night Feast that鈥檚 hosted by the centre. It gives her an opportunity to get together with the community and make connections.
鈥淚t's a feasting of the culture and a coming together 鈥� a gaining of unity and strength,鈥� she describes. 鈥淚t's also a different way of thinking about food. It鈥檚 about giving thanks to the earth and the animals that provided it. And it goes beyond being thankful 鈥� eating only what's necessary to eat. No wasting. You don't take things for granted. You have food today but maybe you won't have food tomorrow. So, be blessed and thankful for what you have and the bounty you can share.鈥�