Katya Grace Jutras: Social Science, International Studies, 2022

When Katya Grace Jutras was looking for a CEGEP to attend, it was Vanier’s multicultural environment that caught her attention. She quickly found a program that suited her. “I wanted to study in an environment that was different from what I was used to. Plus, as soon as I discovered the International Studies profile, I knew I’d be taking courses I was passionate about — and I wasn’t disappointed!

I had also heard about the Indigenous Studies major and enrolled in it during my second semester. The many workshops and lectures allowed me to learn directly from Indigenous people. What I learned in this program greatly enriched my experience at Vanier and made me reconsider the way I think.”

Using her strengths to support others

French is Katya’s first language, and one of her favourite pastimes is reading a good book or writing in French. When she can, she also enjoys sharing the language — but she didn’t expect to get that opportunity at an English CEGEP.

“I was pleasantly surprised and very interested when I heard about the French peer tutoring program at Vanier. With support from our teacher, my peers and I were able to offer tutoring to students who were struggling with French. It’s such a joy to support a student in their efforts to learn the language and to witness their progress over the course of a semester! I also had the chance to contribute to CAF, the French help centre on campus that’s open to all students. My dream is to become a second-language teacher for refugees and immigrants, and this course gave me very practical confirmation that I love explaining the basics of French.”

She also participated in the Humanities tutoring program. “Even as a tutor, I was never left to figure things out on my own. Sometimes helping a student is really a team effort, and I learned different tutoring approaches from my teammates. I also received encouraging feedback from the students I tutored, which helped me improve my methods.”

Vanier, a place to thrive

At Vanier, Katya also had the opportunity to broaden her knowledge of contemporary Quebec literature by taking part in the Prix littéraire des collégiens (PLC). “I heard about the PLC through a friend,” says Katya. “We were curious, so we wrote to the teacher in charge, and that’s how we ended up reading five Quebec novels, discussing them, and forming friendships. I even got to take part in an informal interview with the author of my favourite book!”

Dedicated French teachers

Katya emphasizes the dedication of the French teachers: “If these activities are possible, it’s because there are teachers who truly care about creating spaces where students can talk about francophone literature, and about providing opportunities where we can thrive, help promote the French language, and have new experiences.” She also shares how it was thanks to one teacher’s encouragement that she submitted a poem to an intercultural poetry contest. Her poem was published alongside other student works — and it won first prize. “I loved having a space to perform my poetry and to listen to others’ at the book launch!”

Getting involved in a club and enjoying student life

Although Katya enjoys school, she knew she wanted to take full advantage of Vanier’s student life. She joined the Vanier Christian Fellowship (VCF) in her first semester, and joined the club’s executive committee the following term. “Being part of the executive committee gave me a very different experience. It gave me responsibility and helped me truly understand that leadership is a team effort.”

Katya also contributed to Vanier’s community gardens, the student newspaper, and the Amnesty International group, where she had the chance to present workshops to the entire college. “I really encourage everyone to join a club or extracurricular activity. CEGEP is an opportunity for academic learning, but it’s also a chance to connect with others, discover your passions, learn more about yourself, and try new things!”

Future plans

Pursue a Bachelor’s degree in First Peoples Studies at Concordia University, followed by a microprogram in didactics and linguistics for teaching French as a second language.

By Katya Grace Jutras