Cindy Rojas
Certificate in Adult Learning specializing in Workplace Learning (2015)
Bachelor of Communication and Culture with Minor in Workplace Learning (2012)
General Management Certificate (2008)
Cindy Lee Rojas may not have known it at the time, but when she enrolled in her first Continuing Education course in 2006 she was actually embarking on a nine-year educational journey that would result in two Continuing Education certificates and a University of Calgary undergraduate degree.
In 2008, Cindy graduated from Continuing Education's General Management Certificate program. After combining those credits with an additional hundred hours of courses from the Adult Learning Certificate program, she had the requirements for a Minor in Workplace Learning and went on to seek undergraduate admission* to the Faculty of Arts. In 2012, she convocated with a Bachelor of Communication and Culture with a Minor in Workplace Learning. On completion of her degree, she returned to Continuing Education to complete the four courses she needed to earn her Certificate in Adult Learning specializing in Workplace Learning.
When Cindy began her studies, she was working as an administrative assistant at The City of Calgary. Since that time, she has moved through various roles and departments, and is currently an Information Management Technical Trainer in Water Resources – a great fit with her Adult Learning Certificate.
"My education has definitely played a role in how I have moved positions and grown in my career. I always knew I had to keep on learning to move along. The broad and diverse education I received helped me see that I wanted to move into an educator role, so becoming a trainer was a natural fit."
Cindy, who is married and a mom to two young sons, has diligently pursued her educational goals managing to fit them into her busy home and work life. Typically, she took advantage of quiet lunch hours and evenings, after the children were asleep, for assignments, study, or online course time.
"I've had great support," she says. "My husband has been a big help – always supportive of my class and study time. And I have had great champions and mentors in my workplace supporting my higher education pursuits."
"As I started taking classes, I was able to see that a degree would be manageable to attain even with a young family. At first the amount of time it would take as a part-time student seemed daunting but as I started looking at different methods of pursuing classes – like Saturday courses, and evening and block week classes, I saw I could break it down into more manageable chunks."
Throughout her years of study with Continuing Education, Cindy has had great respect for her teachers – in class and online. "Continuing Education has top-notch instructors – all working in their fields and all subject-matter experts. I've always appreciated that. They're all so responsive to student needs, and always available to help."
"I've had a great experience and would definitely recommend Continuing Education. Now with so many online courses offered, Continuing Education is making learning more accessible than ever."
"For me, learning has always been part of my life. I'm a curious person and want to learn. It's important to me that I contribute to my corporate culture in a meaningful way. Taking classes is a great way to focus on that goal."
* Admission to a faculty is not automatic on completion of the minor. You must also meet the faculty's admission requirements for undergraduate students. More information.