Dear
Sheridan, can we take a moment to hear my voice?
I’m twenty
years old and I came here by choice.
I am taking
a program that my friends are all taking,
Not sure if
this is the right decision I’m making.
I guess it
was right, as I got a job right away.
The hours
were good and I got decent pay.
But
something inside me said I wasn’t done learning.
It wasn’t
just about the money I was earning.
I wanted to
wake up and love what I did.
Did I
mention to you that I now have a kid?
So I worked
more, got married and had child number two.
But
something inside me, kept me thinking of you.
With no
support from my husband, my idea was clearly rejected.
I applied
again to you Sheridan, and was once again accepted.
Returning
back to you now as a scared mature student.
Was this
the right decision? How will I pay rent?
My husband
is gone, my classmates are young.
I keep
wondering if this was wrong what I’ve done.
But in
walks this professor with such style and such grace.
I knew
right then I was in the right place.
She inspired
me to learn and I wanted to be her.
So I
finished college and uni, now I’M an educator!
Then you
hired me Sheridan although just part time.
I knew just
like others it was a ladder I’d climb.
To me it
was expected to teach at more than one college
To gain
some experience and add some more knowledge
At the end
of each term, I used to sit in fear
Wondering
if I’d teach again as I waited to hear.
Had three
interviews, got rejected and didn’t whine.
Because I
kept saying to myself , “ It just wasn’t my time.”
Six years
later, and almost all courses taught,
Another
full time position posted, “Should I apply? Why not?”
This time I
got hired and I was happy to say,
That all
the work paid off. I’m full time today.
You hired
me Sheridan, and I believe in you.
I know that
you’ve seen what I have been through.
You have
taught me Sheridan to stand up for what’s right
Its’ hard
to believe now that its YOU that I fight.
If it means
being cold, losing pay and much more.
Then its’
nothing that I haven’t had to do before.
I thought
that was over when I landed full time.
Instead I
spend weeks walking the picket line.
I was a
student, both young and mature
Part time,
partial load, I also had to endure .
Full time
now, walking alongside new friends.
Will it be
over soon? Well I guess that depends.
I have
shown to you here that I am your biggest investor
So lets’ get back to the table and finish this
semester!
I’d like to
come back to you Sheridan as do we all.
The ball’s
in your court, now you make the call.
Alexis Bruyns
Alexis Bruyns
