Rachel Mazza Lihnakis 2011 Vanier Modern Languages graduate

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Rachel Mazza Lihnakis who graduated from Vanier in 2011 and is currently at McGill University doing a major in Linguistics and a minor in Education, developed an interest in other languages and cultures at a very young age.

"I grew up in an eclectic family hearing a lot of different languages. My mom was a travel agent so I got to visit many countries with her and that also fostered my interest in languages and made me curious about other cultures and other people."

Modern Languages an opening to other languages and cultures

Although she was accepted at other cegeps, Rachel chose to study Modern Languages at Vanier. "I really made the right choice," she exclaims with a smile. "I made many friends here and I had great teachers. The Modern Languages program is a tight knit and demanding program that entails a lot of work. But for me it was fun so it didn't seem too demanding. I loved it!"

What was her favorite part of Vanier?

"How I got to know my teachers, and attending all the events that take place at the College. I love how Vanier brings everyone together – all the students from different cultures and different backgrounds. Vanier is like a big United Nations!"

At Vanier people help one another

"At Vanier people wanted to do well and could be competitive but we all wanted everyone to succeed and we helped each other out. It's not like that at McGill where people are not only highly competitive but they don't help each other at all! It's not like Vanier. In fact many people had advised me against going there, but I went anyway. As it turns out the Linguistics program is a smaller one so people are friendlier than in some of the large programs and there's more contact with the teachers."

Was Rachel well prepared for McGill University studies?

"I was definitely well prepared. The Modern Languages program at Vanier offers some linguistics courses, so I knew what I was getting into, but still that first year of university is a shock. There is more work to do and the deadlines are shorter and the school year is shorter as well so everything is condensed. In Cegep sometimes you can get extensions for essays but not in university. You're in the grown-up world where you have to fend for yourself and get your work done. But I'm organized. I do my assignments right away."

"The first year was rough, but I'm used to it now and I'm enjoying it more. That first year you don't know how to pick your courses; you don't realize teachers are a resource and you need to talk with them."

A taste for travel and teaching

"In the future, I want to travel and teach English as a second language abroad. I discovered I wanted to teach when I had to make a presentation to the class in my last semester at Vanier. It was an oral presentation, which I hate, because I'm so shy. To help me, I prepared a kind of lesson plan then made a really good presentation. In fact, I liked it and I realized I had a knack for teaching. When I spoke my teacher was amazed and exclaimed, "Where did that come from?"

When she's not studying

She's part of a dynamite trio of belly dancers – three childhood friends who attended school together right through to Vanier and who formed their own company Shimmy Entertainment last summer.

How to get the most out of Cegep

"Be yourself. Do stuff you like. Find something and make the most of it. Make friends. Try things. You might find something new you enjoy."