Meet Our Students

I always had an open mind about what my future would be, but I always said “I want to be happy.”

I have found that art and design make me happy, and have pursued that in a way that engages my strategic and analytical capabilities.

Before coming to Mohawk, I studied photography and worked in the industry in Vancouver for a little while. I was exposed to other creative roles and became interested in the world of advertising. A recommendation from a friend lead me to the Advertising Marketing and Communications Management program. Since starting at Mohawk I’ve had the opportunity to work on campaigns for brands through the Agency, meet creative leaders in the industry and be part of an award winning team. I can truly say that I am happy and excited about my future in the advertising industry.

When I was a kid, I wanted to pursue a career in the movie industry—there was always something magical and exciting about watching new adventures take place on the big screen.

Fast forward to today and my love for film has transitioned to a desire for telling compelling stories in the form of advertising. With my energetic personality and strong work ethic, my program is right up my alley and I am developing the tools I need to one day lead a creative team. I’m absolutely certain I will be graduating with the confidence and the know-how to produce content for clients that tells their story in a way that is as awe-inspiring as the movies that sparked my creativity when I was a child.

As a child, I wanted to be everything from a princess to an astronaut to a nurse. I thought childcare was the thing for me until I discovered my true passion, journalism.

Being from Hamilton, Mohawk was my #1 college choice. While there were other options for journalism programs, once I came on a tour of the campus and met with the program coordinators the deal was sealed.

There is a supportive community and the Mohawk Students’ Association hosts exciting and fun events. I am really going to miss being a Mohawk Student. When I graduate I hope to become a producer in entertainment or a publicist.

On any given day I could be Ricky or Richard, it really depends whether I’m in more social or business situations. My career aspirations have sort of followed the same path, I’ve gone from wanting to be a teacher to singer to musical theatre. My interests have now led me to Mohawk to study business. Earning my advanced diploma in business administration will be a great complement to my creative interests and desire to start a small business.

I still love theatre and continue to get inspired by live theatre, as well as participating in original works by friends who are still in the field. I also love practicing yoga, eventually I would like to pursue teacher training and one day open up my own yoga studio. Mohawk’s excellent reputation gives me the confidence that I will graduate with the skills to achieve my dreams of entrepreneurship and becoming a successful business owner.

I’m originally from Jamaica and I first got to know Canada when I came here for a summer vacation. Upon my first visit, I instantly fell in love with the country and decided that Canada was where I wanted to pursue my postsecondary studies. Upon discovery of Mohawk College and its different programs, I learned about the pharmacy technician profession which is what I’m working towards becoming. I switched from wanting to become a pharmacist to wanting to become a pharmacy technician because I love the technical aspects of the field.

After researching many different schools, I chose to study at Mohawk because of its outstanding reputation among the international student community. What I love about Mohawk is how much they focus on their students, there truly is a strong sense of belonging here and I’ve felt that since the very first day I arrived at the college.

As a child, I always wanted to be a doctor or police officer. I was particularly interested in these jobs because it involved helping people. Today, I’m studying to be a nurse, so I’m not too far off from my childhood aspirations.

When I was making the decision about applying to school, I realized that I wanted a more direct way of helping people. As a nurse, I can impact an individual’s life directly, and notice the difference over time. My career aspirations include working in the ER because of the constant change and high pressure situations.

Being from Hamilton, there was no doubt that Mohawk College was the right fit for me. By attending university, I realized that I was hands on learner. I came to Mohawk for the unique learning experiences that will take me from the classroom to the ER.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an art therapist and help people through expressive means. My career aspirations today are related and my path from degree to Social Service Worker diploma has helped me become more focused on understanding factors that inhibit personal expression and growth.

Before coming to Mohawk, I worked a number of part-time jobs from fitness instructor to a vegan restaurant. I felt I needed to reassess my path and look for a program that I could apply my previous university experience. The Social Service Worker program focuses on many of the same themes I explored in my university degree, but with more emphasis on applying skills and gaining experience through field placements. Coming to Mohawk is going to make me even more Future Ready and help me reach my goals of working with marginalized populations.

As a child, I didn’t really know what type of career I wanted to pursue, but I knew I wanted to do something that involved taking care of my family and community. Growing up, I translated that thought into volunteer work and connecting with my Indigenous community.

Eventually, my mentors and peers guided me towards the path of postsecondary education at Mohawk College. They provided me with information and contact names at Indigenous Education and Student Services (IESS). The IESS team helped me navigate the processes of applying for college, OSAP, band funding and more. If it wasn’t for them, I would not be attending Mohawk—they encouraged me to see that I could do it, I just needed a little guidance. Today, I aspire to take care of my family and community through education and building networks of support and cultural knowledge.

I originally wanted to work in the food industry. Working as a cook, I found myself developing a love for baking.

An injury prevented me from returning to the kitchen, but it gave me the drive to figure out a way to combine two passions: helping people and baking. I heard really great things about Mohawk’s community services programs and was inspired.

I am passionate about self-empowerment for all people so enrolling in the Social Service Worker program seemed like a great, natural fit for me. I was right. Earning my diploma in the social services field will allow me to help others realize their full potential.

Science and math were two of my strongest subjects in high school and by the eleventh grade, I knew what I wanted to be and where I wanted to go - to outer space!

Born and raised in Hamilton, Mohawk College was a natural choice. However, it wasn’t just the location that appealed to me, I chose to study here because the engineering programs have a great reputation and I am learning on technology that’s actually used in the engineering field. I also love the sense of community throughout the college and opportunities to connect with other like-minded students.

I’m currently researching a career as an astronaut or a space systems engineer. Mohawk is helping me to grow my skills, find my passion in life, give back to the community, and make sure I take time to care for myself.

I’m the type of person who likes to focus on solving day-to-day problems. What makes my program interesting is that I’m able to develop applications to help solve these problems.

Not only do I study at Mohawk, I work here, too, as part of the college’s Campus Student Employment Program (CSEP). Being an employee of the college has made a huge impact in my personal development. I have learned the importance of soft skills and customer relations. These skills are integral for career success regardless of your profession.

Mohawk has an optional “diploma to degree” program, offered in partnership with McMaster University. Once I graduate from Mohawk, and should I decide to pursue further education, my Ontario College Advanced Diploma will provide me with advanced credit towards the completion of a Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) degree at McMaster.

Without question, attending Mohawk has changed me overall. I’m confident I will graduate with the tools I need to meet my goals of becoming an entrepreneur and helping non-profit and for-profit organizations grow in their field.

I arrived at Mohawk with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from my home country of India. I decided to build on my knowledge with the hands-on experience in the Electrical Engineering Technician diploma. With the guidance of industry experts, I learning how to apply the theory from my degree to on-the-job experiences.

In my free time, I like to volunteer on campus—I’ve helped out with events such as Open House and Day ONE Orientation. I’ve been a peer tutor at the Learning Support Centre and a peer support assistant with Accessible Learning Services. I also like to explore all the different pockets of Hamilton—sometimes I hop on an HSR bus and see where it takes me.

I come to Mohawk every day, even if I don’t have a class! With events regularly organized by the Mohawk Students’ Association and the Language and Culture Centre, there’s always something interesting happening on campus. I love being at Mohawk because I am always learning about new and different things, both inside and outside of the classroom. That’s what makes being a student here so exciting.

When I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher. I have always excelled at teaching, explaining concepts, and the patience to sit with and go over things with others. This passion led me to Mohawk to pursue an apprenticeship program where I could learn from others in a trade.

Having taken a previous course at Mohawk, I knew that I would be getting the best education. One of the great things about college is that you know that all of the instructors have worked in the trades and have experiences to share. In my program I am able to work as an electrical apprentice, which I thoroughly enjoy. When I graduate, I hope to continue to work in the electrical trade and one day train a Mohawk apprenticeship student.

As a child, I wanted to become a zoologist because I loved working with animals. As the years went on, and I entered high school, I found a passion for the skilled trades because I love working with my hands.

Before coming to Mohawk, I had a number of injuries that put an end to working in my previous field. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next, but then I discovered Second Career* and that led to applying to Mohawk. It’s also how I learned that Mohawk is one of Ontario’s largest trainers of apprentices. I’m now studying and retraining to quickly get the knowledge and skills I need to work as an industrial electrician or an instrumentation and control technician.

Besides my studies, I’m part of the Mohawk Student Association team as Student Representative, Vice President – Stoney Creek. I get to plan a lot of fun activities—being a part of the MSA is definitely a great way to become more involved on campus.

*Second Career is a Government of Ontario program that assists laid-off workers with skills training for a new job. Qualified applicants are eligible for financial support for tuition fees, books, transportation, basic living allowance and other associated education costs. Learn more about Second Career at ontario.ca/page/second-career.

My love of the performing arts and acting is something that I’ve embraced throughout my life. What I love most about performance is the ability to get immersed in a character and live in their shoes while on stage. My passion for the stage and acting has helped me in work with children and individuals with autism.

My educational background as a Child and Youth Care Practitioner, gave me the opportunity to work for a few years in the field. After discovering my abilities to work with individuals with Autism, I decided that I wanted to further specialize. My colleagues encouraged me to apply to Mohawk as the program has a reputation of being one of the best. I am excited that in eight months, I’ll graduate with a new credential and experiences to apply to my work.

Growing up I wanted to be a doctor. I’ve always admired the teamwork and dedication it takes to work with people through potentially difficult periods in their lives. This admiration lead my interests to explore opportunities in health care from a community angle.

My degree in Sociology gave me the foundation, but I needed the practical skills and workplace experience. The Mental Health and Disability Management graduate certificate checked all the right boxes. There are many opportunities to learn outside of the classroom and get involved in the community. I look forward to applying these skills and help fill gaps that exist in primary healthcare environments, promoting self-advocacy, accessibility and making a difference in my community.

Growing up I wanted to be an engineer and someone who could solve problems. This aspiration has guided my education and work experiences to date.

New to Canada, and with a background in project management, I found myself looking for opportunities to build on my skills. I found the Business Analysis program and it fit perfectly with my career path. This one-year graduate certificate is preparing me with in-demand skills to interpret data and help build smart solutions for organizations.

I always wanted to help people with disabilities and make a difference in their lives. I spent my free time at school helping people in the special needs classes and supporting them at the Special Olympics. Today, my goal still remains the same. I want to make difference and help to improve their quality of life.

My decision to come to Mohawk started a few years ago, I had applied to the Recreation Therapy program and after visiting, instantly fell in love with the campus. I was also recruited to play on the Varsity Volleyball team, so everything seemed to work out seamlessly. The Rec Therapy program created a starting point for me to continue my studies in a graduate certificate.

Playing Varsity volleyball for Mohawk College has changed my life. It made me into a better person on and off the court and allowed me to create lifelong friendships that have made my time here more memorable. My coaches have been the best support system who care about my success as a student-athlete. When I graduate, I will be prepared with the life skills, supports and experience I need to launch a successful career.