Looking Back - Alina Oliinyk

One year ago, my life absolutely changed. In 2018 I moved to Winnipeg and got a second chance to start a new life. It was a hard decision to leave 27 years of my living in Ukraine and my family there. But I just followed my heart.

English is not my native language. I studied it only in middle and high school and had’t used it in daily life until 2018. When I started to work in an international marketing agency, English became an essential part of my life. I was taking private English lessons three times per week and doing a lot of homework every day at the same time with an intense work schedule in the agency. My job role was all about coordination and managing the design and copywriting teams. After a while, I realized that I want to be a creator and grow as a professional in the marketing field.

I made the decision to take the PR, Marketing and Strategic Communications Management program at The University of Winnipeg PACE. PACE helped me break out of my comfort zone, learn, not to be afraid to make mistakes, to be who I am, and brought me closer to my dream. I am delighted that I met so many amazing people and made so many connections during the program. My skills improved and I reached the goals I set for myself this year. Now I feel confident like never before and ready to create. I am very grateful that PACE took me on such an incredible professional journey.

This year was pretty tough. In the middle of our program, we were stuck in our homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We were witnesses to a worldwide health crisis. We were isolated from each other. It was heartbreaking to lose the in-person classes and communication. However, we supported each other. During the lockdown, we stayed connected as a group and faced the challenges together.

Aside from knowledge and confidence, I also gained something more precious - memories. Our orientation week, first assignments and projects, potlucks, classes, presentations, networking events, cultural night, going out together, imperial cookies at Stella’s, having lunches together, tons of coffee and laughter, supportive hugs, my hero topic card and tears, and many, many others. I will keep them with me and never forget my journey at PACE.

Two years ago I even couldn’t have imagined that I would move to Canada, successfully graduate from PACE, get an internship, and land a job as Digital Marketing Coordinator at Dooley PR & Marketing. Now I understand that everything is possible and I am ready for any new beginnings in my life.

This unbelievable year gave me some valuable insights. The most important lessons I learned are:

• Never say it is impossible. Everything is possible; sometimes, it just takes more time and effort.
• Hard work will always lead to great results.
• The right attitude determines your success.
• There are no problems, only challenges. Be open to challenges!
• Try something new all the time. If you are finding something challenging for you - go for it! Never be afraid of challenges.
• Connect with people. You never know how these connections may help you in the future.
• Be honest with yourself and your team.
• Do not afraid to ask questions. When you are studying, it is reasonable to ask questions.
• Always listen to your team members. Be open to other opinions and ideas.
• Working remotely may be boring, but a beneficial skill nowadays.
• Be kind, and never forget to encourage your colleagues.

Photo by Junice Savares, UWPACE Alumna, Web Development Diploma, Class of 2019.