From fish plant worker to nurse: A UPEI valedictorian's story

Marie Antoinette Pangandidn't have the typical journey to earninga nursing degree.She's originally from the Philippines and came to P.E.I.almost 10 years ago.

She's worked in a fish plant,a hotel and a fast food restaurant, among other jobs, all in hopes of becoming a permanent resident and being able to get a degree from a Canadian university.

"It's hard but I think it's going to be worth it," she said.

I really want to pay back the province, so I wanted to stay here. Marie Antoinette Pangan

Pangansaid it's a dream come true to be graduating from nursing at UPEI. She said it brings a sense of security something she didn't feel when she first came to P.E.I. as a temporary foreign worker.

"Being a temporary foreign worker, you don't have any assurance....But now I've finished my degree ...I can feel like I have a brighter journey," she said.

A better life

Pangan got her permanent residency status in 2014, and soon after was able to bring her son to Canada as well.

She said her ultimate goal was to create a better life for him.

Pangan said she'd alwaysbeen "dreaming" of going back to school and decided onnursing because she knew a job would be guaranteed.

While she did the four-year program, she also worked at a couple of different seniors' homes.

She is very bright, she works hard and she is very smart. Prof. Christina Murray, UPEInursing

"Being a nurse is so rewarding," she said.

"It just feels so happy, helpingpeople in just simple ways, taking care of them, listening when they need someone to listen to."

Pangan said the hardest thing was doing her studies in her second language.

Her education, however, was almost entirely funded by scholarships, and she's won multiple awards on top of being voted to be valedictorian for her convocation ceremonies.

'So driven and she's resilient'

One of her professors, Christina Murray at the UPEI school of nursing, described Panganas incredibly hard working, and committed to the profession.

Murray said a project that Pangan worked on about the health of temporary foreign workers was a valuable piece of research.

"She is very bright, she works hard and she is very smart," Murray said.

"She's so goal-oriented and she's so driven and she's resilient."

Murray said Panganis a gift to the nursing profession.

Nursing studies help family member

Pangan's sister AbegaleBantuganwho now lives in Qatar hastravelled to P.E.Ifor her graduation.

She had breast cancer when Pangan was in school and said her sisterwas a great support.

"She's always calling me while doing the chemo treatment. So she's always on the call," Bantugan said.

Pangan said she now has an interest in oncology.

"Her being sick and having that diagnosis is a big influence for me," Pangansaid.

Wants to give back to P.E.I.

Pangan has several job offers to considerand hopesto work in one of P.E.I.'s hospitals. She said she'salso planning a long-awaited trip back home, as she hasn't been back to the Philippines for five years.

"I'm looking forward to work as an RN at the hospital to gain more experience and knowledge so I can help more," she said.

She knows nurses are in demand everywhere, but said she wants to be a nurse on P.E.I.

"I really want to pay back the province, so I wanted to stay here."

More P.E.I. news