Please join us in congratulating Chelsea Hawke on being SHLC’s June 2025 Learner of the Month.
Chelsea was nominated by Sue, an online educator here at Good Learning Anywhere. Here is a statement about Chelsea from Sue.
I am excited to recognize Chelsea as our Learner of the Month for her outstanding dedication and accomplishments over the past few months. Balancing family, working full-time, and learning is no small feat, yet Chelsea has handled it with exceptional commitment and ease. Since registering with GLA in April, Chelsea has embraced her learning journey.
So far, Chelsea has successfully completed: 8 Live Classes & 8 Independent Moodle Courses (And still going)
Chelsea’s enthusiasm for learning and her unwavering support for others have been truly inspiring. Her hard work has not gone unnoticed — she’s a true rock star and a well-deserving recipient of this month’s award! Congratulations Chelsea!
We decided to ask Chelsea some questions so we could share more about their story with you.
How did you first hear about our program?
I first heard about online learning with Good Learning Anywhere through a collaboration Good Learning Anywhere has with my workplace here at the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre. I am the Urban Indigenous Homeward Bound Program Navigator, and Sue and Linda came into our Centre to register our current cohort of Single Indigenous mothers into the online learning platform so that they could prepare to begin their post-secondary career in the Fall.
Did you have any struggles during your learning? If so, how did you overcome them?
As a toddler mom, I am in the midst of my first time dealing with “mom brain,” and have a difficult time with memory, and dealing with brain fog. To overcome this, I ensured that I was signing up for courses that I found intriguing, which helped keep my interest while working through the course work. It felt less like school, and more like engaging in a hobby.
What advice do you have for someone thinking about starting to improve their skills?
My advice for someone thinking about starting to improve their skills is to take that first step. Give yourself the same encouragement and belief that you would to a friend or loved one.
What is your greatest achievement? Or what accomplishment are you most proud of?
My greatest achievement is being able to bring my culture back into my family. My mom was adopted, and therefore, no one in our family was raised with any knowledge of the Indigenous culture, even her. As a lifelong learner, I have immersed myself in Indigenous culture and heritage, starting from the ground up. I have been able to learn about our history, and embrace the ways of life lead by our Peoples. This year I have participated in my first Sweat, made my own drum, and experienced the Birthing Ceremony, and created my first ribbon skirt, along with a matching one for my toddler. I am proud to say that my child will be raised with all of the teachings that were taken from us, and that I am reclaiming them as our own for future generations.
What are your goals for the future?
My goals for the future include continuing to learn and embrace Indigenous ways of living into my own, as an Urban Indigenous Women. I want to raise happy and healthy children who know where they come from, and that they belong.
Is there anyone you would like to thank for supporting you on this journey?
I would like to thank Sue and Linda Wright for introducing me to the Indigenous courses that Good Learning Anywhere has to offer. I would also like to thank my mom, for reconnecting me to our culture through her connection at the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre.
Is there anything else you would like to share with people about winning this award?
I always like to tell people to give yourself some grace. Learning is a journey, and you are not defined by a letter-grade, a percentage, or a number. Enjoy your journey. Enjoy learning.
Congratulations Chelsea! All the best in 2025!