News Archives: Alvin Salas: Making a Change
Monday, July 10th, 2023
NWP Student Alvin Salas
With the help of a little fatherly advice, Alvin Salas life has changed significantly over that last few years.
Salas had been living in the Philippines for eight years, putting his Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree to work in the corporate sector, but something was missing.
That鈥檚 when his dad, who is happily living in Fairview, encouraged him to make a move he wouldn鈥檛 regret.
In August 2022, Salas relocated thousands of kilometers to Grande Prairie and enrolled in NWP鈥檚 Computer Systems Technology certificate program. According to Salas, the plan to move to Canada wasn鈥檛 just an opportunity to challenge himself academically, he wanted a chance to grow socially and culturally.
鈥淓nglish is not my first language, and I wasn鈥檛 familiar with Canadian culture or customs,鈥 said Salas. 鈥淢oving to Grande Prairie and attending NWP broadened my horizons.鈥
Attending classes at NWP allowed Salas to learn beyond the scope of the syllabus. He developed language skills, lifelong friendships, and an appreciation for quirky Canadian culture. Being surrounded by supportive and enthusiastic staff, like NWP鈥檚 International Student Liaisons, inspired him to dive into his studies with confidence.
鈥淚nformation technology was booming when I first joined the field,鈥 said Salas. 鈥淚 was already interested in computers and how websites work so it felt like a great fit.鈥 Returning to school to learn new skills also made sense, given the rapid pace of technology advancement and the digital age.
As a mature student, Salas approached his studies with a different lens. When he completed his initial degree, he was fresh out of a high school and more focused on having fun and spending time with friends. This time around, Salas was more serious about finding a rewarding career that aligned with his education and interests, rather than just a job to fill the time.
He hit the ground running and graduated in June 2023 but his journey at NWP didn鈥檛 end there. Salas will start a Computer Systems Technology diploma program in the fall.
鈥淭he staff and faculty at NWP are so helpful and welcoming, I didn鈥檛 hesitate to enroll in another year,鈥 said Salas. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to come back.鈥
Returning to school is not just about the certification at the end; it is about the experience of learning and growing as a person.
If you鈥檙e programmed for success visit NWP.me/Science to learn more about the Computer Technology certificate, diploma and degree programs available at NWP.