My journey to university began when my family moved to Canada from Mexico in 2019. As I was starting my first year at Jasper Place High School, my mom was attending MacEwan University as an international student.

Hearing her comment on the sense of community and how supported she felt by her professors in the Early Learning and Child Care program made a big impression on me. I had to wait about a year after my high school graduation until we became permanent residents in the summer of 2023 to apply to university, but when the time came, there was no doubt I wanted to attend the university where my mom felt so welcome.

Today, my mom and I both spend our days at MacEwan. She is an administrative assistant with the Department of Early Learning, where she works alongside people who were once her professors. And I’m a Bachelor of Commerce student majoring in marketing. 

During my first two years at MacEwan, I’ve had the chance to experience the same feelings my mom talked about. There was the English professor in my first semester who created a classroom environment where everyone felt comfortable speaking and sharing their ideas. And the two statistics professors who have been incredibly supportive, making the experience so much easier. 

There’s financial support too. When I told my parents that I had received the MacEwan University Alumni Legacy Award, I saw not only their pride but also their relief in their eyes. The award helped my family breathe a little easier. My mom was especially touched to find that her own experience as an alum was connected to the award. 

When students receive financial support for sharing their stories, as I did, it sends a powerful message: “We hear you, and we want to help you succeed.”

– Clarisa Gonzalez Piana, Bachelor of Commerce student

P.S. Learn more about how gifts to scholarships, awards and bursaries make an impact for students like Clarisa, at MacEwan.ca/Giving.