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'My life is about to change'

Part of a series of stories profiling graduating students

- May 30, 2011

Kyra Wilson graduates with a degree in nursing.
Kyra Wilson graduates with a degree in nursing.

Kyra Wilson will never forget the day the envelope arrived. ā€œAs soon as I saw the acceptance letter from Dalhousie, I thought, ā€˜My life is about to change.ā€™ā€

She was right. Six years later, Ms. Wilson is graduating with a Bachelor of Science, Nursing degree. She began her academic studies by completing the Transition Year Program (TYP), a one-year program that prepares First Nations and African Canadian students for post-secondary study.

ā€œBeing in TYP gave me the confidence to succeed,ā€ she says. ā€œThe staff really care about you and the ongoing support is so important.ā€

Growing up in Halifax, Ms. Wilson always knew she would complete university, but her path took a bit of a detour. She started out at another university, but didnā€™t enjoy the experience and ended up leaving. After that, she spent a year working in coffee shops and grocery stores and ā€œjust being 19.ā€

ā€œI knew I just couldnā€™t do that for the rest of my life,ā€ she says candidly, ā€œand that without education, I would only have limited choices.ā€

After completing TYP, she quickly discovered that the nursing program was a good fit. The program gave her the opportunity to learn in real-world settings, allowing her to discover her true path.

ā€œIn my second year, I had the opportunity to observe open heart surgery in the OR. When I first walked into the room, I thought I was going to faint. After watching the nurses who were so fast and so skilled, I thought, ā€˜Wow ā€” I want to do that. I can do that.ā€™ā€

She credits a large support network with giving her the encouragement to succeed, and is particularly thankful for the support of her grandmother and father.Ā  ā€œHe is a single parent, so he made a lot of sacrifices. Without him, I donā€™t know what would have happened to me,ā€ she says.

Ms. Wilsonā€™s future plans include moving to Toronto after graduation to pursue her career in nursing. She hopes that she can inspire others to overcome similar challenges and follow their dreams. ā€œI want to be a role model to other young, black girls in Halifax,ā€ she says. ā€œIf I can do it, anyone can do it.ā€