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By Christine McLaren
Rosso
From the streets of Vancouver to the University of Victoria, School of Child and Youth Care graduate Randi Rosso transformed her life. The road to a healthy lifestyle has not been easy. Barely graduating from high school without much encouragement or celebration has compelled Rosso to seek ways to support youth education. “My high school experience might have been more successful with the support of a mentor to encourage me,” she says.
Floundering for years in a dead-end job and suffering from drug and alcohol addiction caused Rosso to lose confidence and close the door to further education. The door opened when her financial aid worker suggested that she think about getting an education and exploring avenues for financial support. “I had no computer skills, huge fear around large educational institutions, and concern about my mental health, but once I decided it was what I wanted to do, people helped me on my path. I am grateful for the support I have received,” says Rosso. She received sponsorship from Lake Babine Nation in Burns Lake and numerous scholarship and bursary opportunities came her way as a result of her hard work.
Knowing that working with youth was her calling, she began her search for schools in earnest. She entered the child and youth care First Nations diploma program at Malaspina University-College’s Cowichan campus in Duncan. This choice enabled her to start at a small institution and transfer to UVic for her third and fourth year. “The child and youth care program challenged me to dig deep in order to be effective with youth. Faculty, staff and classmates in the program have been an inspiration for me,” says Rosso. She values the Indigenous supports at the university. Through the LE,NONET Project, she joined the Indigenous studies group. “It was a great way to meet other Indigenous students from diverse backgrounds sharing different passions and strengths,” says Rosso.
Family support is important to Rosso. Several cousins are also attending post-secondary programs and there is a healthy competition between them as they jockey for the best marks and future prospects. As a single parent with an eight-year-old daughter, she is well aware of the sacrifices that her daughter made to help her achieve this goal. “She helped me rehearse for my projects and even came to the class to observe when I presented. She has been my biggest fan, and now she is so glad we are done. Convocation will be a great celebration for both of us.”
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