CARE Success Story: Policely Caulerpha ARellano

  Hard work coupled with persistence will eventually yield success. My journey at Sault College has been interesting. It amazes me how the one-year program opens a door to something different and full of opportunities. I have actually learned a lot in just two semesters of the Hospitality and Tourism Program.

My ultimate dream in life ever since I was a child is to become a Physician someday. That is the reason why I am taking up a preparatory medical course, Bachelor of Science in Biology. Fortunately, I graduated cum laude and got a full academic scholarship for Medicine proper. As I finished my first-year level in Medicine, something terrible happened in my family which then lead to a total change in my life that I’d never expected before. My mother who is the breadwinner of our family got stroked. The Physician who attended to her even told us that if my mother won’t respond to the medication they provided until four o’clock that day, her chance of survival is very minimal. And because I don’t have any valuable properties or any big things I can offer at that time, except for my ultimate dream – to be a doctor, I made an offer to God that in exchange for my mother’s life - my precious “dream.” Miraculously God accepted my offer, at three o’clock on that same day my mother was able to survive. And of course, I am so thankful to God for listening to my prayers and I kept my promise to Him – I gave up my ultimate dream and shift to another pathway in my life, the reason why I am here now in Canada.

For 15 years since my mother survived, I wholeheartedly accepted my destiny. I worked as a government employee in our home town and at the same time I accompany and take care of my mother who is paralyzed and wheelchair dependent. Until such time I have realized that I can still have a great opportunity not only for myself but also for my mother and the whole family. I worked so hard in order to save some money and applied for a student visa here in Canada. Fortunately, my student visa was granted last July 2022 with the assistance of Care Immigration Services. I took up the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program for fall 2022 at Sault College. I have to travel all by myself because my spouse’s open work permit application is still in process.

For the first two weeks in school, I can really say that it was a struggle for me because I have to be a student again after 20 years. But with my willingness to fulfill my second dream – to be here and to live here in Canada, I was able to survive my first month in school with great academic performance. I focused on studying during weekdays and on weekends I started looking for part-time jobs. After my one-month stay here in Sault Ste. Marie it is then I realized that most of the students are having a hard time looking for part-time jobs. And reality hits me, it’s been a month already, and my savings are almost consumed for my room accommodation, bills are coming, and transportation expenses are another thing I have to consider because it is really a necessity for me coz I am on the stage of job hunting. And most of all, my spouse’s open work permit application is still in process which means only that I have no one here to support me on my daily financial needs. 

So, with these realizations, I came up with another option, since I still don’t have a job that can be supposedly a great help for my tuition fees payment, I look for some scholarships offered at Sault College. And this President’s Academic Excellence Award caught my attention. With the qualifications being highlighted in this scholarship program I believe that based on my experience in achieving my academic and life goals I am qualified enough to apply for this scholarship program award. And fortunately, I got the President’s Academic Excellence Award.

And again, with the assistance of CARE IMMIGRATION SERVICES, the open work permit of my spouse was granted as well last January 2023 and the two of us are now together here in Sault, Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.