Katy Lowe is a 29-year-old mother of three.  She has been a student with AU since November 2017 and is currently finishing up her first set of finals.  One of the few that are born and raised and currently living in Calgary, Alberta, she looks forward to chinooks to break up long, bitter cold winters.  She enjoys running along the amazing trails Calgary has to offer and has a self-proclaimed “TV problem,” enjoying her favorites on repeat while keeping warm.

What are you studying at AU?

I am currently studying psychology at AU.  I have 3 children, 2 of them with special needs.  In my experience with raising them and bringing them to daily therapy sessions and learning about their behaviors and how to help them sparked my own love and passion for the field.  As they became a little less intense and dependent I decided to pursue a career in it, which led me to the stepping stones of an undergrad majoring in psychology.

Did you go to post-secondary prior to AU?

Oh, this is a fun question.  Yes and no.  When I was 17/18 I was a student at the U of C.  I was there on several scholarships and determined to pursue a degree in sociology.  I decided in all of my 17 years that I was grown up and at the same time as starting university I should move out.  Also, I determined that I needed my own one-bedroom apartment, not a studio, not a basement suite and not in residency.  Huge mistake.  Apartments mean rent, so then I needed a full-time job.  You can see where this is going I’m sure, I had six courses I was registered in, worked 40 hours a week and at the same time testing the boundaries of my new-found freedom and independence.

My studies suffered.  I had the sensibility to withdraw from one particularly boring class.  One day on a whim, I met a man from the Internet (this was back in 2006 when this sort of thing was very strange).  I was very reluctant to meet someone online, I made sure to have my friends know my location at all times, including sitting in the restaurant pretending to be there alone watching as I met this stranger.

I quickly fell in love and within a few weeks he was inviting me to go to Mexico with him.  Being the incredibly ridiculous child that I was I agreed, neglecting my school work – too ashamed to withdraw and just ran away from my problems at school, ran all the way to Mexico.

I did marry that guy, so I mean that worked out.  However, now as an adult wanting to pursue education I have a great big 0.0 GPA stamped on my record as a result of a mistake I made as a child.  The avenue to post-secondary for me was a school that looked at my potential and not my past misgivings. This school was AU, whose requirements were only to be over 16 and then prove myself within my courses, so here I am.

What has been your most enjoyable AU course that you would recommend to other students?

Math 215 surprisingly! I decided to take the courses I dreaded the most first and this included Math 215 (Stats) and it turned out to be my favorite! As interesting as I’ve found other courses to be in terms of material, I loved that the math course was just black and white answers – nothing open to interpretation.  It was like solving a puzzle at the end of a stressful day trying to learn other course work.

What are your academic goals for 2018?

For 2018, I am finishing my first semester this February, which I am really looking forward to.  Validating that I CAN, in fact, get a degree.  I plan to finish another 2 semesters following this.

What are you hoping to do with your education from AU?

And again my rambles above kind of answer this one.  I am hoping to be a psychologist working with developmental disorders in children, such as ASD, ADHD, DCD, etc.

What is one thing you would like to complete personally in 2018?

Well I used to run marathons.  I loved running (not in the moment, but after when I’d get a medal), and in 2017 I was diagnosed with a neuromuscular autoimmune disease, myasthenia gravis.  It affects your voluntary muscles, which means my mobility was compromised, by ability to talk, eat, swallow and breathe, etc. It was pretty horrible.  Anyway, the upside of this is that it progressed enough for me to be approved for a specific mononuclear treatment which I was given in December and will continue to get every 4-6 months for the rest of my life – and it essentially handed me my life back.  So I’m able to walk unassisted again even which is amazing.  I recently started running again, and although its teeny tiny runs compared to what I used to do – for me, I’d like to run a half marathon again in 2018 – not a full one like I used to as I don’t have the time to train for that anymore but a half one and I’ll be very very happy!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In school! Ha but seriously I see myself *just* graduating from my undergrad and hopefully pursuing a Master’s degree. 

What is the last book you read?

I’m in the middle of the outlander series.  I love it and read a little bit before bed every night, it’s a great way to decompress from my school work, or else I fall asleep too focused on topics I was reading earlier and wake up exhausted from doing math in my sleep all night!

What show do you think everyone should binge watch?

I binge watch Scrubs and Friends and Grey’s Anatomy.  Repeatedly.  It drives my husband crazy because I keep restarting them over and over and although it’s clear I’ve seen them all, I love them, and I’m not sure I’d ever tire of them.  The people who haven’t seen Scrubs? I mean, come on.  Hilarious.

My love for Scrubs is so strong that I have named one of my children and one of my dogs after characters in the show.  In fact, I have used many shows for naming inspiration.

My dogs are Jack, Swarley and Turk.  Jack was named from Will & Grace (from a LONG time ago!).  Swarley is named from How I met your Mother and Turk is from Scrubs.

My oldest child is 7 and named Elliette (from Scrubs too see? Different spelling though), my middle daughter Taylor (I tried for Jordan, also from Scrubs, but my husband put a stop to the TV names here) is 6 and my son, Evan is 4.

How do you make cold winter days more enjoyable?

By not leaving the house! When it’s truly bitter and snowing, I make a stark contrast by wearing the fluffiest, warmest pjs and slippers, drinking hot coffee and watching the snow fall as I’m incredibly toasty inside!

[While we did a few student interviews this year, this one caught the attention of students because of the similarity with many of our stories – AU is often a plan B for people who’ve found their first choice (of career, of school, etc) didn’t work out as expected.]

Katy Lowe is a 29-year-old mother of three.  She has been a student with AU since November 2017 and is currently finishing up her first set of finals.  One of the few that are born and raised and currently living in Calgary, Alberta, she looks forward to chinooks to break up long, bitter cold winters.  She enjoys running along the amazing trails Calgary has to offer and has a self-proclaimed “TV problem,” enjoying her favorites on repeat while keeping warm.

What are you studying at AU?

I am currently studying psychology at AU.  I have 3 children, 2 of them with special needs.  In my experience with raising them and bringing them to daily therapy sessions and learning about their behaviors and how to help them sparked my own love and passion for the field.  As they became a little less intense and dependent I decided to pursue a career in it, which led me to the stepping stones of an undergrad majoring in psychology.

Did you go to post-secondary prior to AU?

Oh, this is a fun question.  Yes and no.  When I was 17/18 I was a student at the U of C.  I was there on several scholarships and determined to pursue a degree in sociology.  I decided in all of my 17 years that I was grown up and at the same time as starting university I should move out.  Also, I determined that I needed my own one-bedroom apartment, not a studio, not a basement suite and not in residency.  Huge mistake.  Apartments mean rent, so then I needed a full-time job.  You can see where this is going I’m sure, I had six courses I was registered in, worked 40 hours a week and at the same time testing the boundaries of my new-found freedom and independence.

My studies suffered.  I had the sensibility to withdraw from one particularly boring class.  One day on a whim, I met a man from the Internet (this was back in 2006 when this sort of thing was very strange).  I was very reluctant to meet someone online, I made sure to have my friends know my location at all times, including sitting in the restaurant pretending to be there alone watching as I met this stranger.

I quickly fell in love and within a few weeks he was inviting me to go to Mexico with him.  Being the incredibly ridiculous child that I was I agreed, neglecting my school work – too ashamed to withdraw and just ran away from my problems at school, ran all the way to Mexico.

I did marry that guy, so I mean that worked out.  However, now as an adult wanting to pursue education I have a great big 0.0 GPA stamped on my record as a result of a mistake I made as a child.  The avenue to post-secondary for me was a school that looked at my potential and not my past misgivings. This school was AU, whose requirements were only to be over 16 and then prove myself within my courses, so here I am.

What has been your most enjoyable AU course that you would recommend to other students?

Math 215 surprisingly! I decided to take the courses I dreaded the most first and this included Math 215 (Stats) and it turned out to be my favorite! As interesting as I’ve found other courses to be in terms of material, I loved that the math course was just black and white answers – nothing open to interpretation.  It was like solving a puzzle at the end of a stressful day trying to learn other course work.

What are your academic goals for 2018?

For 2018, I am finishing my first semester this February, which I am really looking forward to.  Validating that I CAN, in fact, get a degree.  I plan to finish another 2 semesters following this.

What are you hoping to do with your education from AU?

And again my rambles above kind of answer this one.  I am hoping to be a psychologist working with developmental disorders in children, such as ASD, ADHD, DCD, etc.

What is one thing you would like to complete personally in 2018?

Well I used to run marathons.  I loved running (not in the moment, but after when I’d get a medal), and in 2017 I was diagnosed with a neuromuscular autoimmune disease, myasthenia gravis.  It affects your voluntary muscles, which means my mobility was compromised, by ability to talk, eat, swallow and breathe, etc. It was pretty horrible.  Anyway, the upside of this is that it progressed enough for me to be approved for a specific mononuclear treatment which I was given in December and will continue to get every 4-6 months for the rest of my life – and it essentially handed me my life back.  So I’m able to walk unassisted again even which is amazing.  I recently started running again, and although its teeny tiny runs compared to what I used to do – for me, I’d like to run a half marathon again in 2018 – not a full one like I used to as I don’t have the time to train for that anymore but a half one and I’ll be very very happy!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In school! Ha but seriously I see myself *just* graduating from my undergrad and hopefully pursuing a Master’s degree. 

What is the last book you read?

I’m in the middle of the outlander series.  I love it and read a little bit before bed every night, it’s a great way to decompress from my school work, or else I fall asleep too focused on topics I was reading earlier and wake up exhausted from doing math in my sleep all night!

What show do you think everyone should binge watch?

I binge watch Scrubs and Friends and Grey’s Anatomy.  Repeatedly.  It drives my husband crazy because I keep restarting them over and over and although it’s clear I’ve seen them all, I love them, and I’m not sure I’d ever tire of them.  The people who haven’t seen Scrubs? I mean, come on.  Hilarious.

My love for Scrubs is so strong that I have named one of my children and one of my dogs after characters in the show.  In fact, I have used many shows for naming inspiration.

My dogs are Jack, Swarley and Turk.  Jack was named from Will & Grace (from a LONG time ago!).  Swarley is named from How I met your Mother and Turk is from Scrubs.

My oldest child is 7 and named Elliette (from Scrubs too see? Different spelling though), my middle daughter Taylor (I tried for Jordan, also from Scrubs, but my husband put a stop to the TV names here) is 6 and my son, Evan is 4.

How do you make cold winter days more enjoyable?

By not leaving the house! When it’s truly bitter and snowing, I make a stark contrast by wearing the fluffiest, warmest pjs and slippers, drinking hot coffee and watching the snow fall as I’m incredibly toasty inside!

Cpl. Lisa Grandmaison balances working full time as a File Manager/Recruiting staff for the 36 Canadian Brigade Army Reserve Recruiting unit in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with studying toward her Bachelor of Business Management at AU and taking care of her one year old daughter Sophie.  Originally hailing from the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, a beautiful area that boasts the highest tides in the world, she now touts that one should visit Halifax, rich in military history.  While in Nova Scotia’s capital, she suggests you visit the Halifax Citadel museum with the best view of the city, dine at some of the local seafood restaurants on the waterfront, and enjoy walks through Point Pleasant Park.

What are your plans with your education from AU?

My intention is to use my education to further my career in the Canadian Armed Forces by transferring from the Reserve Forces (Part-time) to becoming an officer within the Regular Forces (Full-time).  Ideally, I would like to take the skills and knowledge base I’ve acquired at AU and apply it to my career with CAF to become a better leader and officer.

What has been your favorite class so far that you would recommend to other students?

Any of my marketing courses as they have allowed me to take the knowledge from those courses to help with my career in the Army Reserve Recruiting world.

What are your 2018 academic goals?

I would like to get to the point of being almost ready to graduate.  My intention is to complete as many courses as I can to advance myself career-wise.

What is one thing new you want to try in 2018?

I’m looking at getting into competitive powerlifting as weightlifting is a passion of mine.  Besides that, I want to complete my second half marathon and hopefully with a better time this time around!

You are having a dinner party and get to invite 3 famous people to sit with.  What is the topic of conversation?

I would invite General Jonathan Vance, LtGen (Ret’d) Romeo Dallaire, and Former PM John Diefenbaker.  I think it would be interesting to talk about the progress of Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as well as find out what they think needs to change and how they would do it.  These three men made significant differences to Canada in various aspects, so it would be interesting to speak with each of them.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Professionally, I hope to have become an Aerospace Control Officer and have done a tour of duty somewhere.  Personally, I want to have graduated from AU and potentially buy some more property, possibly in the Caribbean.  My husband and I are a team, so where ever we go, it will be together.

What was your favorite school assigned book in junior high or high school?

Animal Farm by George Orwell.  This book impacted my life and opened my train of thought to realize that not everything goes the way it should and “everyone is equal but some are more equal than others.” It was an interesting book to read with the subliminal Marxist ideas and truly makes you think about society as a whole and how it operates.

What show do you recommend every one binge watch right now?

Black Mirror is my guilty pleasure right now.  My husband introduced me to it and I’m fascinated with how every episode is different and how they demonstrate the effects of advanced technologies on society.

When you are not studying, what does your day look like?

I work full time as a File Manager/Recruiting staff for the 36 Canadian Brigade Army Reserve Recruiting unit.  It’s a rewarding job that is constantly changing which keeps me busy during the week.  Besides working, I go to the gym regularly and am training for a half marathon in the Fall.  I also like to go for drives with my family and take walks on the trail with my daughter.

What inspired or motivated you to join the Armed Forces?

Originally, I was interested because my best friend was in and told me about how it would help pay for school, as the reserves will give up to $2000 a year for school, plus your normal pay while working.  It was a huge incentive to me since I was in grade 12 at the time and scared about joining.  Now that I’m in, I can honestly say that I love my job, I’m infantry by trade and currently working in recruiting.  Being part of the army has been the most challenging and rewarding thing for me both physically, emotionally, and mentally.  I’ve learned so much about myself from all the training that I can honestly say it was the best decision that “young me” made.

What does the perfect Sunday morning look like for you?

Wake up before my daughter, which doesn’t happen often, and go for a quick run while the world is still quiet.  From there, my husband and I like to get a coffee and take my daughter to the Seaport Market.  We normally spend some time making up the food we got from the market.

What has been your favorite AU course that you would recommend to other students to take?

WGST 333 (Goddess Mythology, Women’s Spirituality and Ecofeminism) – I absolutely loved that course.  So much historical information that really makes you think about how colonialism and Christianity have shaped the world.  As a nature lover and someone who runs an energetic healing business, the ecofeminism part of it was really relevant to me as well.

What are you academic goals for 2018?

To continue working on my undergrad.  My goal is to finish two full semesters between April 1 and December 31.

What do you hope to do with your education from AU?

I want to add a therapeutic aspect to my existing business, so I plan to go on to get my Masters in Counselling

What inspired you to work with horses?

I grew up on a cattle ranch and we always had horses.  At 10, I joined a horse 4-H club and was a member for 11 years until I aged out.  My horse was my best friend growing up and I wanted to offer that connection to as many people as possible.

Tell me about your favourite horse?

My favourite horse is the mare that I got when I was about 8 and she was my 4-H horse.  I was so excited to have a registered quarter horse.  Her name was Poco Bar Candy – I called her Candy.  She was a brat of a horse, not an easy one to ride, but she was my best friend.  I spent hours and hours on horseback throughout my youth and teen years.  She died a few years ago at 22 years old and it broke my heart.

What is Rydyn High Ranch?

Rydyn High Ranch is our cattle/horse ranch operation.  We have just under one hundred head of commercial cows and plan to grow to 350 head within the next four years so that my husband can quit his day job and ranch full time.

What does Hearts and Hooves Holistic Healing do?

Hearts and Hooves is my side of the business.  I offer energy healing, aromatherapy, equine facilitated learning and personal development and we are adding on a guest ranch/retreat to it as well so that we can offer multi-day programs.

Besides working with horses, what are some of your other passions?

I love writing – poetry and stories and I am working on a book.  Photography is another passion of mine.  Enabling and empowering young women and women is something that feeds my soul.

What are you currently reading for fun?

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown and Witch, Unleashed, Untamed, Unapologetic by Lisa Lister

What is the number one show you think everyone should binge watch?

Riverdale… It’s my new favourite!  Everyone should be watching it.  The characters are quite different from the comics, but I can’t get enough of it.

If you were to host a dinner party and could invite anyone, famous or not, past or present, who would be sitting at your table? What would the conversation be about?

Mahatma Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey – we would talk about how to reverse some of the less than desirable changes in society that have taken place over the last decade or so and how to help people find peace within themselves and not live in fear and hatred.

How do you balance school and work?

Lucky for me with our relocation and revamping of my business plan, I have had a lot of downtime in the past few months, so I have been able to dedicate time to my schoolwork fairly easily.  Come springtime when I am marketing, doing trade shows and building up my retreat side of things, it will likely become a lot more difficult to balance.

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I hope to be running a successful equine facilitated wellness retreat and ranch as well as doing some motivational speaking and promoting my book (maybe books).

Sinead Hickman is originally from Whitehorse, Yukon, but moved to Alberta as a teenager.  She currently resides in Red Deer with her two young children and her husband whom she credits for allowing her to achieve her educational goals.  She has been an AU student off and on for the past decade and is in her final courses toward her degree in Criminal Justice.

Why did you choose to study at AU?

I finished my policing diploma from Lethbridge College and was hired with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) right away.  I wanted to continue my education and Athabasca accepted my full two years towards my current degree.

What courses have you completed so far that you would recommend to other students?

I LOVED Ethical Decision Making in Law Enforcement (CRJS 490) and Victims of Crime (CRJS 352).  Those two are by far my favourites.

I know you mentioned being a student on and off for the last ten years at AU, what are the improvements you have noticed as you work through your courses?

I have noticed that I learned how to take notes and study more efficiently.  I used to copy out so much more than I needed to.  Now it’s highlighting and rewriting just the minimum.

What are your academic goals for 2018?

I hope to graduate! Finishing my classes with the highest marks possible early in the year and graduating would make this a perfect 2018.  I would LOVE to hang my degree on the wall before Christmas.

What are you hoping to do with your education from AU?

I am hoping to get a promotion within the RCMP.  I am also hoping to go on to a Master’s program in Criminology and maybe law school after that.

What is one thing on your bucket list that you would like to complete in 2018?

I would love to take a road trip to Victoria with my husband and kids to meet my half-sister.  We speak often, but we just recently reconnected so I haven’t meet here.

If you were to get a tattoo to symbolize your life, what would it be?

It would be my children’s names in some sort of cool design.

What was your favorite memory from 2017?

Having my son.  He is nine months old now.

What is it like to juggle two young children with school?

Hard!  I couldn’t manage both school and family without my husband.  He has supported and sacrificed so much for me to be able to follow my dreams.  I couldn’t ask for a better partner.

What is one thing you started doing in 2017 that you want to do more of in 2018?

I started walking more.  We also started asking our daughter what her favourite part of each day was.  It is nice to remember the good things that happen, even if your day was a little crummy.

Best movie you saw in 2017?

Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

What movie are you are excited to see in 2018?

A Wrinkle in Time

If you didn’t have to worry about time or money, what would you be doing today?

I would forever be a student!! I love to learn and grow as a person.  I honestly believe it is never too late in life to go back to school or start a new career.  Life would be so boring without education and learning.

What has your post-secondary journey looked like?

I graduated from 1ο Γενικό Λύκειο Καβάλας (the 1st senior high school of Kavala) in 2009 and succeeded in the Pan-Hellenic entrance examinations to the University. Specifically, in 2013 I acquired a bachelor’s degree in Faculty of Education of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with the direction of School of Primary Education.

What has been the hardest part about studying online in Canada from Greece?

Honestly, I faced no difficulties with the program itself studying by distance. The hardest part would be my personal busy schedule, including job and housekeeping. I was obsessed with my studies, I loved studying and I wish I had more hours available for studying. Because of my desire to do my best in my studies and due to my everyday obligations, I was always studying late into the night over the past two years. However, I never allowed tiredness to slow me down. On the contrary, I dug my heels in and left no chance to allow external factors to prohibit my studying or my strong yearning to achieve my personal learning goals.

What has been your favourite AU course?

This is a difficult question to answer. Each of MDDE courses are special to me. However, if I need to choose one, I would say that Instructional Design in Distance Education (MDDE604) was the most beneficial and complete course. The course is totally devoted to instructional design (ID) principles and provided a great opportunity for us to develop a unit of instruction based on the theory of ID. The creation of the instructional unit was demanding, but a very interesting and beneficial task.

Why did you choose AU?

When I ended my first year of undergraduate studies, I came across a textbook of Professor Dr. Tsinakos about his course “Distance Education” in the department of Computer Engineering of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology (EMATTECH). My studies in the field of primary education made me interested in whatever deals with the field of education and learning. So, the title, Distance Education, of that textbook attracted my interest and I read it carefully in only one day. I was just absorbed! From that moment, distance education was in my future studies-plan. In the last year of my undergraduate studies, I found the master’s program in Distance Education of Athabasca University. I was enchanted and I registered. There was no other master’s program in Greece with specialization in distance education. That was the reason behind the selection of the particular program. Moreover, combining the topic of the master’s degree with the flexible nature of Athabasca University, AU was a unique opportunity for me to study my field of interest without time or place restrictions.

What was the last movie you watched?

The last movie I watched was Life of Pi. Even though the release date of the movie was 2012, I watched it a week ago. It’s undoubtedly very interesting and worth watching. The metaphoric implications are wise and it demands your mind and concentration while watching. Life of Pi is by no means a light movie.

What is the number one reason someone should vacation in Greece?

Greek history, of course. It is an undeniable fact that Greek civilization is not only beautiful, but also formed the basis for other civilizations all over the world. Ancient buildings, sculptures, churches, manuscripts written in Ancient Greek Language, and objects are dispersed all over the country—either protected in museums or located outdoors. No visitor should miss Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens, as well as Knossos in Crete Island. My city, Kavala, has plethora of historical monuments too. Besides history, sun, sea, hospitality, and tasty food form the identity of Greece. Olive oil, nuts, fresh fishes, and Greek Yoghurt are some of the most nutritious and delicious Greek products that each visitor should taste.

What is your dream job?

The M.Ed. in Distance Education constituted a strong inspiration for my future plans, concerning my academic and professional desires. First of all, I want to continue my studies with a doctorate in the field of distance education and the affordances of mobile or blended learning in education. These areas are not very famous in Greece and currently they are not applied in primary education. Because of my first degree in primary education, I would like to devote my doctorate to both sciences taking advantage of the innovative character of this master’s program. Furthermore, I am stimulated to implement personal research on the field of distance education and contribute the adaption of online learning in Greek educational contexts. Briefly, I would say that my dream job is to become an academic and researcher combining the fields of education and technology. Recently I accepted a position as a researcher at Advanced Educational Technologies & Mobile Applications (AETMA) Lab at Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology. I am honoured and excited as this gives me the chance to not only used the knowledge and skills I gained from the M.Ed in Distance Education program, but also participate in innovative projects.

What kind of music do you like to listen to?

Rock music is what I prefer to listen to! I love Radiohead, Madrugada, Placebo, and Offspring. But, while I am working or studying I love listening to a particular playlist on YouTube, the Disney Piano Collection. I am obsessed with Animation Disney Movies and I adore their soundtracks. The particular playlist is relaxing and helps me to stay concentrated and focused on my tasks.

What super power would you like to have?

I would like to be a time-traveler! I would like to have the power to travel back in the past, from the ancient years to the recent past! This would give me the opportunity to see how primitive people live, to observe the dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, to meet meaningful personalities, such as Socrates and Plato, to have some more moments with my mom that I missed at a young age.

Do you have a favorite sport?

Generally I prefer individual sports rather than team sports. I find sports like athletics or gymnastics very interesting, because each athlete has to break their personal record. It seems like a bet on their personality. I think that I prefer this kind of sports because they remind me of myself. I always bet on myself and I always want to break my “records” and become continually better!

Laura Nelson is a marketing analyst by day and a bibliophile by night. She is in her final stages of completing her BA with a major in English through AU.

[It wouldn’t be a Best of the Voice Magazine without a student interview.  I chose this one from among those recommended because it shows, in one article, the heights AU students can reach for, the breadth of their back-grounds, and how, in some ways, we’re all alike no matter where we’re from.  I think getting all that into one article means it deserves its spot here, don’t you? -Ed.]

Lauren Klukas is currently finishing her Bachelor of Science- Human Science through AU while raising her daughter in Calgary, Alberta and testing out meal plans from her new cook book The Complete Plate – a Stronger, Healthier, Happier You that will be available throughout Canada in January, 2018.  Released in major book stores just in time for setting New Year’s Resolutions, you can also visit her website https://www.thecompleteplate.com over the next few weeks for exclusive copies for sale before they hit the shelves.  Her ability to turn a slight set-back into significant success personifies how a few simple substitutions in a recipe can inspire a new purpose.

Why did you choose AU?
I couldn’t fit my lab schedules at my previous university with my work schedule.  I liked the flexibility and ironically the smaller community feel of AU.  Ironic since students who attend AU are from all over the globe, but for some reason it feels like more of a community.

What has your post-secondary journey looked like?
I started off in Biological Sciences because pretty much every eager teen graduating from high school thinks they are going to be a doctor.  Then I quickly realized, no, that was not my gift.  So I went back to the drawing board, and looked again at my life to see what my passions were.  Growing up I had been a high level competitive swimmer, swimming 9 times per week.  When I had free time my favourite thing to do was to go workout.  I had an innate passion for fitness, so it seemed only fitting to get my Personal Fitness Trainer (PFT) Diploma from Mount Royal University.  In 2008, I graduated with my PFT and began working with clients to reach their fitness goals.  I loved my vocation, but regretted not finishing my BSc., so, at the end of 2010, I enrolled in AU to finish what I had started.  I loved the flexibility to still work full time while going to school.

I was getting to the end of my degree in 2012 when life was flipped upside down.  My husband and I received the very exciting news that we were expecting our first child.  My goal was to try and finish up the rest of degree in those 9 months.  I was doing pretty well with my schedule until I reached the 16 week mark of my pregnancy.  I was having terrible heart palpitations, so I went for some tests.  I didn’t hear anything back so I went on with my life, working on my courses and booking exams.  Three weeks later I received a call from the Foothills Hospital to stop all physical activity immediately and come into the hospital at once.

What I thought was going to be a quick in and out turned into a week-long stay.  I had an exam booked during that week and AU was absolutely amazing in accommodating me.  I loved that I was able to call and speak to someone directly.  With all the other uncertainties on my plate at that time I was beyond grateful for AU’s compassion and readiness to step up and make sure that my schooling was not a source of stress on top of everything else.

I was diagnosed with a rare heart condition called Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).  Because of this diagnosis I am no longer allowed to exercise for the rest of my life.  I also ended up spending a month of my pregnancy in the hospital.  I have had two heart surgeries, and the journey to find the correct medication cocktail has been physically exhausting.  I had to drop out of a course and slow my academic schedule down substantially.  However, through it all, AU has been completely supportive, very accommodating and wonderfully flexible to help me finish my degree in a way that works for me, I don’t feel like having the goal to finish my degree in the midst of my new reality and health journey would be possible at any other institution.  While my post-secondary journey is definitely not traditional, I am beyond grateful for AU.

What has been your favourite or most memorable AU course?
This is a tough one! Each course has contributed in some way to the project I have been working on for the past 3 years especially NUTR 330, 405, 406 and 495.  I also really enjoyed each time I had to go to actual campus in Athabasca for lab work.

What was the inspiration behind creating your cookbook?
I was inspired to write this book because of my diagnosis.  Not being allowed to exercise for the rest of my life, I needed to find a way to control and manage my weight purely through nutrition.  I needed to adopt sustainable healthy eating habits.

When I went looking for a tool to help me I realized that all I could find were fad diets or detoxes that eliminated certain foods or entire food groups.  I have already given up so much with disease, I am not willing to also give up bacon, bread, cheese and chocolate.  Those approaches were not sustainable for me, there was nothing available that promoted successful long-term healthy eating.  So I set out on a goal to provide a scientifically sound nutritional resource that promoted healthy relationships with food.

Consulting with a registered dietitian and chef, I designed 30 meal plans for 1500, 2000 and 2500 kcal that provide 100% of the current daily recommended intake values from food.  No foods or food groups have been eliminated.  Meals are simple, ingredients can be found at any local grocery store, and the recipes are family friendly.

How has Athabasca University helped with the process of creating your cookbook?
Athabasca has provided an amazing foundation within my program to seek truth not trends and develop my critical thinking skills.  Starting with Scientific Reasoning (SCIE 326) which equipped me the scientific reasoning skills I need to guide my questioning around claims and scientific study designs (methodology) to NUTR 330, 405, 406 and 495 which gave me the foundation to discern which claims are just another fad.

What is your favorite recipe in your cookbook?
I have quite a few favourites! I know this sounds very biased, but I honestly really enjoy all of the meal plans.  The goal was to make all the meal plans yummy, since variety is so important in creating sustainable eating habits.  I am actually having my meal plan 26 today, so yummy! I even started the day with pancakes, because all foods can fit!

If you hosted an episode of Chopped Canada, what four items would you have in the picnic basket for the contestants? 

This question is way too fun! Hmmmm….  Shiitake mushrooms, goat cheese, beets, and I am so tempted to say Nutella as the 4th ingredient … okay Nutella! This could easily be a disaster or completely epic.

What one meal could you eat for the rest of your life?
Tacos!

What do you like to snack on while studying?
I usually try to avoid mindless snacking.  If I am going to eat I want to sit and enjoy it, but hey, life happens, and it is not always practical to sit and focus on just your food, so in those cases I would grab some air-popped popcorn with nothing on it.  I like the flavour of fresh air-popped popcorn.  It is a great snack to feel satisfied that isn’t overly energy dense.  All toppings like butter and coconut oil can definitely still fit, within moderation, but a good snack if you are going to be mindless or focused on other things like studying is plain air-popped popcorn.

Pineapple on pizza – yay or nay?
YES! I know this is not for everyone, but I am a huge fan.  I love the texture and taste.

What is your favorite kitchen hack?
Let’s go back to my love of air-popped popcorn.  Don’t have a popcorn machine? Or you do, but, like me, are too lazy to pull it and use it? Then use a brown paper bag, pour 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels in the bag.  Fold the top of bag over twice.  Place in the microwave for 2 minutes.  Stop the microwave when you hear the popping slow down.  Enjoy! It is also a great toddler snack, my daughter loves it.

What is your mantra in life?
The irony is that I could not cook before my diagnosis almost 5 years ago now.  Actually, I hated cooking and thought it was chore.  Now cooking is one of my greatest sources of joy.  My diagnosis showed me that we are so quick to limit ourselves, to fit our identities into a box if that makes sense.

I want to encourage others to learn a new skill they may have written off.  Who would have thought five years ago I would have a cookbook coming out?

So my mantra in the book:

“When Life Gives You Lemons… Bake a Lemon Meringue Pie!” – The Complete Plate (2018)

Besides cooking, what are some of your other hobbies?
Fitness was always my hobby.  I was never creative in the traditional sense of being able to paint, sing or play an instrument.  So, when fitness was off the table, I had a bit of an identity crisis.  As a result of my new-found love for cooking, I also discovered a love for food styling and food photography.  They have been very therapeutic outlets for me in coping with this new reality.

CaraLee MacLean is a first year student at AU working towards her Bachelor of Commerce with a degree in Accounting.  She currently resides in her hometown Plaster Rock, New Brunswick, a village known for its logging and lumber industry and as the Gateway to Mount Carleton Provincial Park. 

Why did you choose AU for your degree?
I chose Athabasca because I started university during grade 11 and couldn’t go away – distance learning was the best solution.  I like that I can learn at my own pace and not feel rushed.  Plus, the website is easy to navigate and the courses are explained well

What course would you recommend to other AU students?
I would recommend Business Mathematics (Math244).  It is challenging, but teaches great principles that help build a great foundation to be used later in the degree.  The one thing that I found frustrating though was not having a video to watch when I got stuck as I am a visual learner.

How do you motivate yourself to keep on track with your studies?
I motivate myself by not letting myself have any entertainment until I get to a certain part in an assignment.  When I do reach those milestones, I spend time at the farm or with my family, friends and dog.

What do you snack on while you’re studying?
My favourite snack is either Lays plain chips with Italian chip dip or chocolate for when I’m studying.

What is the last novel you read?
The last novel I read was Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson.  Dee Anderson is a Christian fiction writer and I enjoyed that this novel was full of suspense and mystery.  My favorite books are often filled with those two things.

What is your number one spot to travel to on your bucket list?
Venice, Italy, but if I had to choose a vacation destination for the rest of my life it would be the family camp.  I’m a family person and this camp holds many family memories, especially with my grandparents.  I wouldn’t want to go too far away from my family for long.

Do you like this time of year?
Autumn is my favourite season with the leaves changing colours, the cooler temperatures and because it is hunting season.  I learned to hunt from my grandfather, father and with my brother and I have been hunting for six years.  Next year I want to start hunting moose and geese as well.  Our family eats all of our hunted game which I enjoy, especially Pepperoncini Goose Meat.

What is your slogan for your life?
“Can’t is a sluggard too lazy to try”. 

(Loosely based on William Allen Butler’s quote “I Can’t is a sluggard, too lazy to work”.)

What has your academic journey looked like so far?
I had previously completed two years of my English degree at the local college in Grande Prairie.  I transferred to AU as the Grande Prairie Regional College didn’t have the senior level courses in English that I needed.  When I transferred to AU, I also started a new job around the same time.  I had a bit of a difficult time adjusting to both a new job and working on school part-time through AU.  I took me a little while to figure out how to balance everything, but I have finally figured it out –I think.

To be honest, I have only actually completed one course through Athabasca in the last year.  I had enrolled in one other class, which turned out not to be for me and I didn’t complete it.  It has only been in the last 6 or 7 months I buckled down and started working harder on my studies.

In general, the best class I have ever taken in my academic career was one that I took at the GPRC and it was an English class that focused on American literature from the early 20th century.

Which course would you recommend to other English students?
I think that any English course that focuses on developing your essay writing skills is crucial for any student, but in particular an English student would find it most beneficial, as well as a great foundation for their senior level courses.  The GPRC didn’t make it mandatory to take a class in essay writing, there was one available in the junior English class selection, but it wasn’t mandatory, and I pursued other junior English classes instead.  Now that I have transferred to AU, I have to take ENG 255.  Even though I am well past junior English classes, it is a requirement! Which I think is a great thing, and I wish I would have taken it sooner! I struggled so much in the beginning with writing essays, and still sometimes do.

I know, what sense does that make? An English major who struggles at writing essays!

How do you motivate yourself when it comes to studying?
I wish I had something romantic and inspiring to say, but I don’t.  The three things that motivate me to study more are:

1. How much I have spent on courses
2. Impending course due dates
3. Seeing job listings come up of positions I would have really liked and could have applied for if I was done my degree already!

The latter is one that really gets me though! Seeing a potential job I would have really loved to apply for come up and then slip away makes me want to complete my degree quicker!

What is your favorite book?
The Great Gatsby by F.  Scott Fitzgerald

Yes, how surprising an English major that adores The Great Gatsby.  Don’t roll your eyes!

It is elegantly written and each sentence is perfectly crafted.  It also has some of the most beautiful lines I have ever read.  It begins and ends with sentences that I resonate with so much.  When you feel a surge of emphasis from the first AND the last line of a book, you know what you are reading is something special.

“In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.

“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

Have you watched The Great Gatsby film?
Yes, there are two and I have seen both.  Actually, wait, aren’t there three versions? One dating back from the 1920s or 1930s?

Anyway, I have only seen the one produced in the 1970s, as well as the one produced in 2013.  Both are so different in the way they were filmed and created.  The one created in the 1970s is so delicate, while the one produced in 2013 is so vivid.  I had seen the more recent one before I had seen the older version, and the way I had imagined everything while reading the book coincided with the newer version.  The older version, I guess you could say, made me feel sleepy.  And I don’t mean that as it was so boring I fell asleep.  I mean the colour usage, the way they spoke, the way they interacted just seemed so subtle.  The newer version was jarring and loud and vibrant, and that’s exactly how I pictured it while reading.  I do really enjoy the newer version, and I found it followed the book so well, the script almost exact to the book.  That doesn’t usually happen when a book is turned into a movie.

If your life was a novel, what would the title be?
The Holiday Armadillo: Being the Ross Geller in Everyday Life

In your article, I loved your statement “A good leader is one that educates.” Tell me about a positive leader in your life and how he or she inspired you.
I had an English instructor at the GPRC that I aspire to be like every day.  She has lived the most fascinating life, but is also so down-to-earth.  She is very friendly and helpful to all of her students, and she is so knowledgeable and passionate about what she taught.  She always took the time to really help me when I struggled with certain aspects of MLA essays, or to listen when I would approach her and start chatting after class about something when she probably had to leave.  I guess you could say she always took the time.  And it was with all of her students.  She was an extremely hard marker though, but I appreciated it.

You are hosting a dinner party and have been lucky enough to invite 8 people that have influenced your life (celebrity or not, alive or dead).  Who are the 8 people sitting at your table?
My husband, my sister, the English instructor mentioned previously, F.  Scott Fitzgerald, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Meryl Streep, Emma Watson, and Claude Monet.

If you could bring back one toy from your childhood, what would it be?
I don’t know to be honest.  The few things I loved as a child I still have.  I don’t have any yearning for anything in particular from my childhood.  I kept my Little House on the Prairie box set from when I was a child and it will always have an honorary position on my bookshelf.  Some of the books that were my favourite out of that set are extremely worn.  I guess if I didn’t have those, they would be something I would want to bring back.

Why did you choose AU to study at?
AU offers me the best balance between flexibility and quality of education, particularly in subjects that interest me. I can study when I want to and in subjects that interest me, while still obtaining a high quality of education. I have also found that the BSc program at AU offers me greater flexibility in course selection than similar programs at other universities.

What parts do you like about online learning through AU?
The ability to learn in any place, at any time, and on my terms. AU’s online learning allows me to continue my life as usual, while still improving my education.

What do you dislike about online learning through AU?
Invigilated, non-online exams. The Online Exam Project is progressing slowly, and while I can do online exams with ProctorU, it’s difficult to find invigilators in my area as the local institutions don’t like offering their invigilation services to outside students.

What inspired you to minor in Game Programming?
I enjoy computer games and AU’s game programming courses, so I was already planning to take the required courses. When the Faculty of Science & Technology announced the minor, I realized that I could complete the minor without any additional effort, so I changed my program.

What is your favorite video/online game?
World of Warcraft, as it contains all of the aspects that I enjoy in a computer game. I like role-playing games, especially high fantasy, and World of Warcraft allows role-playing in a highly social environment with enjoyable game mechanics.

What course would you recommend to other AU students?
ASTR 205 (Universe—The Ultimate Frontier). This course is an excellent balance of mathematics, physics, and astronomy, without being excessively complicated. Moreover, the TMAs helped me practice my writing and research skills in a fun way. My tutor, Dr. David Lyder, made the experience more enjoyable by providing excellent feedback along the way.

How do you motivate yourself when it comes to studying?
I reward myself. When I reach a short-term goal, such as finishing a chapter, I allow myself to play a game, watch a movie, or read a book. For bigger achievements, such as completing a course, I usually reward myself with a short break and something entertaining, such as going away for the weekend.

What is the number one travel place on your bucket list?
At the moment, it’s Rovaniemi in Finland. Since I live in a relatively warm area, I tend to enjoy colder places, so the Arctic Circle becomes an attractive destination. Rovaniemi offers natural beauty and numerous activities, along with fascinating wildlife.

Who is your favorite musician or band?
I enjoy Pink Floyd’s music, particularly “The Dark Side of the Moon.” The song has a nice rhythm and profound, philosophical lyrics.

If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose?
Thirty, because it’s a nice balance between youth and maturity. I would be able to enjoy the benefits of youth, but still be mature enough to make good decisions and be respected.

If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
Socrates. I enjoy his philosophical debates, and it would be interesting to have a conversation with him.

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be?
Make mistakes. That’s how people learn. The alternative is procrastinating and achieving nothing.

Laura Nelson is a marketing analyst by day and a bibliophile by night. She is in her final stages of completing her BA with a major in English through AU.