Pam Plain0

Dear Ms. Hansell

Boozhoo, Pam Plain ndizhnikaaz, Migizi ndodem, Aamjiwnaang ndoonjibaa. Anishinaabe Kwe niin daaw.

I had the honor of being selected for a Rose Nolan scholarship in 2007.  During that time I was just starting my second year at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario.  I made the move to Sudbury the previous year to obtain my BSW in Native Human Services.  I am originally from Sarnia, Ontario which is about 7 hours southwest of Sudbury. The decision to move from my home and family was a difficult one, but my dream of higher education and obtaining my BSW has been something that I wanted to do for many years.  So in the fall of 2006 I made the move.

It can be a struggle as a student to complete your studies when you are constantly worrying about your finances and if your going to have enough money to pay the bills while living on a students allowance. If your lucky your school schedule will allow for you to obtain a part time job.  If not then you have to apply for scholarships and bursaries such as the Rose Nolan Scholarship.

Throughout my educational pursuits at Laurentian I was able to maintain grades that enabled me to be on the Deans Honors list for the 3 years I was a student. If it wasn’t for opportunities such as the Rose Nolan Scholarship I don’t know where I would have ended up at that time.  I look back to my years at University and wonder how I managed to pay my vehicle, rent, bills, food, I dunno but I did it!

The zhoonyaa I recieved from the Ted Nolan Foundation/Rose Nolan Scholarship was very helpful and took alot of stress off me at that time. I am so grateful to their organization for the opportunity to apply for this prestigious award.  If it wasn’t for opportunities such as this I don’t know what students would do, as we all know that student allowances that we recieve from our Bands isn’t enough to live on.  Thats another story!

Today I am looking forward to graduating June 2, 2009, the following day I am happy to say that I will start a permanent fulltime job at an agency in my field of study.

Again gchi-miigwech to Ted & Sandra Nolan for the work they do and the opportunities, the Ted Nolan Foundation and the Rose Nolan Scholarship, offer students, “our future leaders of tomorrow.”