Amanpreet Jatana
Certificate in Visual Design specializing in Photography
"I'm so happy I found Continuing Education," says Amanpreet Jatana, a recent graduate of the Certificate in Visual Design specializing in Photography. "No matter what your age, it can work for you."
With the help of Continuing Education Amanpreet was able to fulfil a personal goal that she had set aside for more than a decade while she worked to realize her family's dream of immigrating to Canada and settling in Calgary.
In 2001, at the age of 17, Amanpreet arrived in Canada from India to live with her aunt. It was the first step of a long journey. From that day on, she working diligently at any job she could find –fast food, sales, security – whatever she could fit into her day and by 2007, Amanpreet was able to sponsor her family and bring them to Calgary.
In 2008, Amanpreet married, and by 2013, she and her husband had two children. In that time, her family had settled in the city and her younger brother had graduated from UCalgary with an engineering degree. It was her brother who introduced her to Continuing Education in 2010, urging her to consider a program for herself. Her mother and younger sister, educated and working as an accountant in the oil and gas industry, also encouraged Amanpreet to pursue her studies.
Having always wanted to be a photographer, Amanpreet chose the Certificate in Visual Design specializing in Photography, and since completing that program – on the suggestion of an instructor – has gone on to work towards the Graphic Design certificate.
With her husband's help, Amanpreet is able to attend classes in the evenings. "I love sitting down in class. It's so relaxing for me," she says. "It's so nice to go and learn something new."
Amanpreet has established a business – photographing families, babies, and kids' birthday parties.
"Photography is both my business and my passion," she says. "My business is small now, but I hope to see it grow."
Amanpreet also treasures the people she has met through Continuing Education. "I have made friends along the way. We like to get together to share our pictures and help each other."