As one journey ends, another begins for STM College graduates
Florence Dale among STM College students to receive degrees at Fall Convocation
By Paul SinkewiczFlorence Dale’s walk across the stage at Merlis Belcher Place was the end of one journey, and the beginning of another.
The 38-year-old mother of two was one of 29 new St. Thomas More College graduates to receive their degree at the recent 2023 University of Saskatchewan Fall Convocation Ceremony.
Husband, Greg, and daughters, Victoria, 13, and Michelle, 10, watched Florence receive her Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics.
But before Florence took the final few steps on her journey to her university degree, she was first honoured at a Convocation Brunch hosted by STM College. Dr. Carl Still, President of the College, congratulated the Class of 2023 on their accomplishments at the event.
Madeleine Blais-Dahlem also spoke to the graduates on behalf of the St. Thomas More Newman Alumni Association, welcoming them into the fold of the STMNAA, and encouraging them to stay connected to the College as they continued on their journey.
Originally from El Salvador, Dale Came to Canada in 2001 when she was just 16 years old, settling in Red Deer, Alberta, where her parents hoped to give her a better life with more opportunities.
She met Greg while studying at Red Deer College, fell in love and married, and moved to Saskatchewan after he joined the RCMP and was posted to Buffalo Narrows.
Moving to Saskatoon gave Dale the chance to finish her studies, and she quickly found a home at STM College while studying Business Economics.
“I was amazed and really happy about all the opportunities St. Thomas More College had for me,” she said. “It was definitely my favourite studying spot. You can actually find a place to sit down and it’s quiet. And the people are very respectful and the staff was super helpful as well.”
Dale spent most of her time at STM while between classes, preferring the easy chairs in the Shannon Library with the large, north-facing windows. Her second favourite place to work was the John Henry Newman Student Lounge, because she always had the option of participating in student activities and could take advantage of free drinks and snacks that were so often on offer to students.
She always felt welcomed and invited by the event coordinators.
While she was still working toward her degree, Dale said she wouldn’t tell people about her secret sanctuary at STM, but now that she has graduated, she said it is safe to spread the word.
She said while juggling all the duties of motherhood, raising two active young daughters, and studying hard to achieve her degree, she was grateful to have found a quiet, homey space where she could feel so comfortable.
She appreciated the little things, like seeing the smiling face of Campus Minister Michael MacLean or being offered a Valentine’s Day treat by staff members. She especially remembers the awesome staff in the Shannon Library who offered mental breaks with puzzles or the chance to recharge with a cookie.
Dale is now exploring career options, focusing on her interest in environmental economics.
“I would love to be able to get into that path,” she said. "Canada is such an amazing country. It has so many resources and it’s the envy of the world. You guys have such a special country. Something I learned in class is just putting more thought into the efficient way of using the resources in general -- mining, water management -- all of that is very important if we want to look at the future.”
“I look at my own girls. I want to give them a great future. It’s very important to have that way of thinking about the future.”
Dale has very fond memories of the STM College professors she said had a profound influence upon her.
“Prof. Anna Klimina is a very elegant and very tough lady. She has my utmost respect. I learned a ton from her. Those were my hardest classes, but she very much would help me integrate what I would learn and apply it to everyday situations.”
Dale also singled our Prof. Hongbin Zhang, from the Department of Economics.
“Her way of thinking is so organized and she has such an amazing way to transform thought into process. I admire her so much.”
“And I absolutely loved Dr. Saeed Moshiri’s class. I told him ‘I paid for my whole seat, but you kept me on the edge of it.’ He has such a dynamic and hands-on approach.”
While in his class, she participated in the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) with students from Brussels, which she feels has been a big advantage for her in the job market.
With those experiences, and a degree in hand, Dale is ready for the next phase of her life, but plans to keep coming back to STM College when she can as an active alumna.
2023 Fall Convocation List of Graduates
https://stmcollege.ca/alumni/graduation-classes/stm-class-of-2023.php
See the Convocation Brunch Slideshow
