Esther Enyolu

“I am so indebted to Carleton University for the knowledge implanted on me during my years at the University. I started studying at Carleton 2 days after arriving in Canada. My success at Carleton is attributed to the inspiration of several professors, TAs and many support staff members at the Soc-Anthro Department, who cared and supported. There is success in having people who were there for you as someone new to the country. Worthy of mentioning are many students that I met along the way taking different courses. Some of the women were like big sisters to me, these women took turns to drive me home after lectures at night when my spouse was at work. I have many professors to thank but cannot mention them all. I would like to mention two of them who supervised my honours thesis: June Corman, and late Joseph Manyoni, as well as Ian Prattis who also supported. They encouraged, motivated, inspired and challenged me to bring the best out of me. It was not easy being a new immigrant, being a spouse, a mother, a student, and a part-time employee, my hands were really full. For instance, on one occasion, the registrant looked at me as a pregnant woman with a list of 5 courses I was registering for and asked, “are you sure you can handle this with your condition?” Holding all these roles really disciplined me, also, the support of a partner who was a professor grounded me.

I feel so blessed and honoured to have started my educational journey at Carleton. The Department of Sociology and Anthropology prepared me for different professional roles I occupied over the years, even though I furthered my education in other fields, including MBA. Specifically, whether it is leadership skills, research, policy and program development, Carleton prepared me well. Also, in field work experience endeavours, gender-based violence, women’s issues, youth and children, policy domains, race relations or anti-racism/anti-oppression perspectives, women and work, human rights, and social justice. For example, my honours thesis is based on “Adaptation of Immigrants in Canada.” As the field is wide, it provided an opportunity for different social theories and intersectionality approach to be canvassed.”