Strangers helped pay her tuition, now Mohawk grad is looking for work
Ten months ago, she was a final-year college student at risk of dropping out amid accumulating tuition fees.
Now, thanks to generous strangers, Oluwapelumi Debbie Adegoke, has graduated from Mohawk College's child and youth care program and is looking for work in her field with diploma in hand.
Adegoke, who came to Canada from Nigeria as an international student, shared her story on GoFundMe in January with the goal of raising exactly what she needed to pay tuition for the third and final year of the program: $11,350.
She exceeded her goal by about a thousand dollars before her March 31 deadline to pay.
I didn't expect that," she said. They don't even know me and they were willing to give to me from their pocket, from what they have. That was really ... surprising and overwhelming for me."
Adegoke was out of options after her parents' business, a hotel and event centre in Nigeria, took a financial hit during the pandemic. She worked 20 hours a week - the maximum for international students - as an in-home personal support worker (PSW) to pay her rent, groceries and phone bill. But it wasn't enough to cover tuition - $8,350 for winter 2021, plus a $3,000 debt from the fall.
Domestic tuition for the program is significantly less, at roughly $2,050 per semester.
More than 200 people gave between $5 and $2,000 online, many accompanying their donation with words of encouragement and pre-emptive congratulations.
Keep working hard! We've got your back," reads one. I am so happy to be a part of this, and wish you the very best in your final semester and beyond," reads another.
According to one donor message, her story made it as far as Georgia in the United States.
Adgoke said she was shocked" by the response.
I'm so grateful for everyone that ... supported me and everyone that helped me share my story," she said.
Now that Adegoke has graduated, she faces a new challenge: finding work in the child and youth care field.
Initially, she wanted to work in a school or with young offenders. Now, she's willing to take any job in the field, which could also include working in hospitals, group homes or child welfare. She's open to moving anywhere in Canada for the right position.
If there's a lot of opportunity with the job and if the pay range is good, I don't mind moving," she said.
With some work experience, she may qualify for permanent residency in Canada.
For now, she continues to live in a west Mountain student house in order to save while working full-time as a PSW.
I'm still applying to more jobs in my field, and just waiting for replies," she said.
Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com