Katie's Story: Balancing Education, Work, and Family to Achieve Her Teaching Dream

Katie Perepeletza always knew she wanted to be a teacher, but becoming a mother at a young age meant that university wasn’t immediately an option. Years later, Northern Lakes College (NLC) has provided her with the flexibility to pursue higher education while working full time and raising her daughter.

"I always wanted to be a teacher," Katie says. "But going to university right after high school wasn’t really an option. I live about an hour outside of Edmonton and travelling back and forth to a university or college just wasn’t feasible with childcare and other responsibilities."

When post-secondary institutions began expanding their online offerings during the COVID-19 pandemic, new opportunities opened for Katie. She discovered the University of Calgary’s Community-Based Bachelor of Education program and learned that NLC partnered with them to provide a bridging option.

"I talked to a student advisor at Northern Lakes College, and I was like, ‘You know what? I think this will work for me!’" For two years, Katie completed her courses entirely online through NLC, appreciating the flexibility that allowed her to balance school, work, and family. "I loved it," she says. "I loved that the classes were recorded so I could watch them when I had time, or I could attend the live classes if I was available."

Despite the convenience of virtual learning, she still wanted to feel more connected to her peers. "I met a lot of my friends through group work," she reports. "Now, going into Calgary, I know people, which makes the transition easier."

Looking for more involvement, Katie decided to run for Northern Lakes College Students’ Association president while balancing full-time work, full-time studies, and raising her 13-year-old daughter. "I just wasn’t connecting with people like I wanted to," she says. "I wanted to be more involved and understand more about the College. The Students’ Association was a great way to do that."

With encouragement from the association’s manager, she took on the role, which significantly enriched her university experience. "As corny as it sounds, it changed my post-secondary experience," she reports. "I met friends through there that I can now connect with, and we support each other in Calgary, which is really nice. Even students who are still with Northern Lakes College reach out, and it’s nice to talk about our experiences together."

Now in her first year at the University of Calgary, Katie is completing her Community-Based Bachelor of Education and is set to graduate in April 2026, with plans to teach high school English. "The program is mostly online," she explains. "Though, I had to do two summers of in-class learning in Calgary. I have already completed my first one and I’ll have two more weeks in Calgary in July 2025. The opportunity to have an in-person learning experience is a nice change of pace."

Throughout her journey, Katie’s husband and daughter have been her biggest supporters. "My daughter thinks I’m amazing. She’s like, ‘I’m only in Grade 8, and I struggle just balancing volleyball and school. You’re a mom, you work full time, and you’re a student with honours!’"

Katie has always believed that there is no perfect timeline for success. "I always tell her that one of the hardest things for us as adults is that we think there’s a particular timeline," Katie says. "Like, you graduate high school, then you go to university, then you meet your partner, get married, then you have kids. But I’ve always been an advocate of the idea that there is no perfect timeline."

Looking back, Katie is grateful she took the leap when she did. "I kind of hesitated a couple years ago, thinking, ‘I’ll already be in my thirties by the time I’m done,’" she admits. "But if I hadn’t started four years ago, I’d still be where I am - just without a degree. Now, I’m only a year away from finishing, and that feels really good."

She also praises NLC for the level of support it offers students. "As far as the institutions I’ve been a part of, Northern Lakes College seems to offer the most support for students," she says. "The academic advice, student wellness, online flexibility, Students’ Association, bursaries, and financial help - those things are unparalleled."