Noella Dorothy Beersa (Liberal Arts), Wynter Bryant (Arts and Culture), Eléonore Martin-Menga (AEC in Commercial Photography) and Judy Phuong Trinh Le (Pure & Applied Science) are the first four recipients of the new Dawson College Perseverance Award.

This award is funded through the Student Academic Enrichment Fund and is intended to encourage Dawson students from all programs and sectors to continue in their studies.

The Dawson College Perseverance Award is given to one student from each sector (Creative & Applied Arts; Science, Medical Studies and Engineering; Social Science & Business Technologies; and Continuing Education).

Each one of the Fall 2023 recipients has persevered and overcome great obstacles. The Communications Office interviewed them and shares this Q & A in recognition of their perseverance and to inspire other students.

1. Tell me what you are comfortable sharing publicly about the struggles and challenges you have overcome to continue at school and keep pursuing your dreams.

Noella Dorothy Beersa (NDB): I wasn’t allowed to go to school because my mother wanted to teach me a biased curriculum at home. Afterwards, I was finally able to go to high school and get decent grades. However at the same time I dealt with the struggles of living in foster care and having high anxiety, later diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder. During CEGEP, I aged out of the system and moved into an independent living program. The move, my anxiety disorder, the newly acquired financial needs, as well as the continual loneliness of not having a family, was a lot to handle on top of the rigorous workload that comes with the Liberal Arts program.

Wynter Bryant (WB): I’ve overcome difficulties with substance abuse as well as depression and anxiety. With the help of my support system and my counsellors, I’ve been able to stay in school and start breaking down some of my barriers.

Eléonore Martin-Menga (EMM): I have faced several challenges on my journey to pursue my dreams, particularly in the context of being a single parent. Balancing the responsibilities of parenthood with the demands of school has been a significant struggle. However, the support and love from my children has become a source of strength rather than an obstacle. Overcoming self-limiting thoughts and societal expectations has been an ongoing battle, but with perseverance, I’ve learned to prioritize my passions and invest in myself.

Judy Phuong Trinh Le (JPTL): I have been living with disabilities and have been in and out of hospitals for over a decade now due to many health problems, including Pseudotumor cerebri, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and other health problems such as heart and kidney problems due to taking many, many harsh and toxic pain medications over the years. I have had many painful treatments and procedures, with one unfortunate surgery leaving me paralyzed for six months. Thus, I had to relearn how to function again. I am now bound to a wheelchair.

Even during the times that I was in pain and could only lie in bed, I still asked my mother to buy me some school textbooks, and I would challengingly read a page every day. I took learning, and education in general, as my source of happiness and motivation to forget about all of my pain. That was how I studied by myself, and every time I completed a textbook in a subject, I would go to an adult centre just to pass the exam and earn the credits for that subject. I did that for all of my Secondary V subjects, which is why I took over five years to finish just my Secondary V. I was so happy when I finally earned my high school diploma!

Despite my situation, I decided to return to a real school for the first time in 10 years in the Fall 2021 semester. I endured the pain and pushed myself to keep up with all of the deadlines for the schoolwork. Unfortunately, after only one month, my body had reached its limit and I started having severe panic attacks, causing me to miss three months of school. During that time, even the slightest sound of the phone ringing made me burst into tears out of fear. It felt like I would never be able to go back to school nor do anything meaningful with my life. However, even amid that dark time, I did my best to study a little bit every day, and with my teachers’ support and additional medication, I was able to come and pass my final exams at the end of the semester.

I started to have hope in my future, hope that I could lead a meaningful life. I built up resilience and confidence in the face of adversity, propelling me to give CEGEP a second try after months of absence, and I’ve been able to keep at it until now.

2. Tell me about your life at Dawson- what program (and profile if applicable) are you in? What activities, clubs, sports are you involved in? What do you like best about your Dawson experience so far?

NDB: I am in the Liberal Arts program at Dawson. Although it can be more than demanding, I enjoy it very much. I’m also in the unofficial Latin Club. I do participate in Trivia Nights, although I wish they happened more often. The seasonal activities Dawson has like the back-to-school festival are also activities that I enjoy. One thing I enjoyed about my life at Dawson is the various academic subjects I study in my program. I feel like I am exploring a whole world of academia that I wouldn’t find in another program.

WB: I’m in Arts and Culture. I don’t really have a direction with this program but the thing I like most about it, and my college experience in general, has been expanding my knowledge about the world. Chasing knowledge has always been very important to me and I put a lot of effort into my classes.

EMM: Currently enrolled in the AEC Commercial Photography program at Dawson College, my experience has been marked by a slower-paced, quieter atmosphere during evening classes. I appreciate the openness of the staff, classrooms, and fellow students. The exposure to various visual art programs has sparked my interest in diverse fields like interior design and painting. The supportive environment has allowed me to explore different aspects of art and photography, contributing to my overall growth and learning.

JPTL: I am currently studying in the Pure and Applied Science profile, in the Science program. I can only take two courses per semester; therefore it will take me a very long time to graduate from CEGEP. Because of the surgeries I have had in my spinal column, I cannot sit for more than two hours. As well, I regularly have very intense headaches due to my neurological condition, and taking the elevator, especially to move to a higher floor, is terrible for me because it increases the pressure in my brain and worsens my headaches. I also have many follow-up appointments and treatments at the hospital, so I tend to miss class at times.

Thanks to our school’s SAAC department, and to my wonderful teachers who help me record the class whenever I am absent, I am able to overcome the obstacles that I face and continue progressing in my courses. That is what I appreciate and like best about my Dawson experience so far: to have such wonderful teachers and student accommodations! As for activities, I participated in the Space Arduino Navigation Challenge in the Winter 2023 semester as part of my Engineering Physics class, and I loved it so much that I decided to sign up for the CRC Robotics club last semester (Fall 2023).

3. What is the impact of receiving this award?

NDB: This reward will help give me financial stability when pursuing my university education. It impacts me a lot, because it is one of my only sources of financial support, since I don’t have any parents or family.

WB: Receiving this award makes me feel more confident in myself and helps me realize how far I’ve come in my own personal journey.

EMM: The Dawson College Perseverance Award has had a profound impact on both my confidence and financial situation. The recognition for my hard work instills a sense of worthiness and motivates me to continue giving my best. Financially, the award has alleviated some of the stress associated with supporting a family and pursuing an expensive hobby. It has allowed me to invest in crucial aspects of my photography business, such as organizing backups, ensuring a more secure and professional workflow.

JPTL: One of the biggest barriers that I face on a daily basis is the financial barrier, since I only live with my mother, and we depend on welfare because of our health problems (my mom has cancer). To some, receiving this award of $1,000 may not mean much, but to me, it is a huge gift that constitutes a source of motivation to keep on with my studies.

4. Do you have an encouraging message to share with other students who are struggling?

NDB: Any student can pursue whatever career they want as long as they are motivated enough and find the right resources. They should not let their financial or familial background deter them from following their dreams.

WB: Reaching out to your support system and being honest about your struggles and emotions is the only thing that helped me. I mean, REALLY being honest. No surface-level stuff. I think the only way to get better is by facing your demons head-on, no matter how painful or embarrassing they may be. If you don’t have a good support system, then start journalling. I know everybody suggests this, but it has helped me organize my thoughts so much.

EMM: To fellow students facing challenges, my message is simple: Keep moving forward, even if it’s just a small step. Confront negative thoughts and self-limiting beliefs, reminding yourself that persistence opens the door to a future filled with limitless possibilities. Embrace gratitude for the life you have and believe that you deserve happiness tailored to your unique personality. The journey might be tough, but every step forward is a step towards success.

JPTL: Many people have advised me to halt my studies and wait until I fully recover to continue my studies. But, when would I fully recover? And would that even happen? When I was paralyzed, I still did my best to study word after word, line after line. Whereas my friends that were at school that had teachers to teach them finished that same chapter in one class. One thing is for sure: I know that If I had taken other people’s advice to halt my studies, my life would be more miserable, plagued with constant debilitating pain and sorrow. My advice to other students is to never give up! Some people come back to school in their seventies, eighties, etc. Find your purpose in life and take baby steps each day towards it.

5. What are your plans for school and your career?

NDB: I want to study English Literature at university and then attend McGill’s Faculty of Law. I want to become a lawyer. I’m not sure what field of law I want to work in, but I know I want to go to McGill since their program offers a double degree in both common and civil law.

WB: I have no idea. I want to continue getting good grades for the next year I’m here- that’s all I know. I have many career ideas that I want to pursue but I don’t know what to do about any of them. I never really thought about what I would do if I made it to adulthood, so I still don’t have a clear career path. Maybe continue with art or go into an environmental field.

EMM: In my final year at Dawson, I aim to absorb as much knowledge as possible from my professors. Simultaneously, I plan to develop my portrait photography business and explore my artistic side. Looking ahead, I aspire to spend considerable time photographing people and landscapes, sharing the experience of being a Black woman who loves the outdoors with a diverse audience.

JPTL: Ideally, I would like to finish CEGEP and pursue university studies in Computer Science and Statistics/Physics, or a similar field.

6. Anything else you would like to say?

NDB: I want to say that the Liberal Arts program is underrated and although it requires a lot of hard work, it more than prepares students for university and opens many doors in fields like law. I just wish more people knew about it and what it offers.

WB: No 🙂

EMM: It’s never too late to invest in oneself and pursue one’s passions. At 40, I asked myself what I love and took steps toward my dreams. Support from my children, rather than being a hindrance, has been a driving force. Life’s constraints are often internal self-limiting thoughts, not external factors like family or social status. I am grateful for the opportunities the Dawson College Perseverance Award provides and look forward to making the most of this chance to achieve my goals.

JPTL: I am incredibly happy and grateful to the Awards team who has chosen me for this award. Thank you for encouraging me in my learning journey.