Vivian Dixon has wanted to attend AV俱乐部 ever since high school.
鈥淚t was actually in my yearbook that I would attend Dal and become a social worker,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淏ut life got in the way and I just kept putting university off.鈥�
After earning a diploma and several certificates, and building a career in the helping professions,听Vivian finally seized the opportunity to make her university goal a reality. And when she did, she was glad to have Dal鈥檚 Transition Year Program (TYP) to prepare her for university.
鈥淚鈥檇 had a career in social services for over 20 years but to actually be in the academic setting was a whole new learning curve,鈥� she explains. 鈥淭he TYP helped me maneuver my way around university life. I needed the transition, even as a mature student, because the work and academic experiences are totally different.鈥�
Getting to Dal might have taken longer than she expected but the experience and insight that she鈥檚 been able to bring to her academic career are invaluable.
鈥淚鈥檓 in the right place at the right time. My past experiences have definitely served me well. This is something I鈥檓 already comfortable with. And now I鈥檓 getting the credentials to go with it.鈥�
Though听Vivian is graduating with her Bachelor of Social Work degree in May, she鈥檚 not done with Dal yet. 鈥淚 knew as soon as I was accepted into the Bachelor of Social Work program that I was going to do the master鈥檚 straight after.鈥� She will begin the Master of Social Work program in the fall term.
Vivian reflects, 鈥淲ithout the support of my family, my husband and children, my sister and friends, this would not be possible.鈥�
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So, it鈥檚 fitting that she鈥檚 now looking forward to welcoming her daughter to campus. 鈥淢y daughter has applied to Dal. So we might be here together!鈥�
This article is part of a series on our newest graduates. These profiles are also published in the 2014 Spring Convocation Keepsake, which is distributed at Convocation ceremonies. For more on Convocation (including live webcasts), .