BLESSY VIJAYA

What brought you to Northern College?

I came to Canada with one mission — to become a boss lady. While exploring colleges, Northern College immediately stood out. It offered not only a strong academic program but also vibrant extracurricular activities that caught my attention. Through the college website, social media, and YouTube, I saw how involved the college is and how well they care for the students. I knew this was the place I was meant to be.

Tell us about your favourite Northern College experience?

The Northern College Family is home. When I moved to Canada, I didn't know anyone here. I had issues with my study permit, which didn't allow me to work and access my GIC account. When I came to college, I met student services ( The kindest people I've met in Canada ) who helped me through the entire Journey. They booked a meeting with the bank so that I could access my GIC, contacted an immigration office, helped me financially, and followed up on my process. They were there as my family, standing by my side as I was going through this problem with IRCC. With all the stress, I had a mental breakdown in college, and I knew the only place I had to go to. Jassdip was there to hold me and help me calm down. It's one of the most beautiful memories I have with Jass. Northern College has the most amazing family. Working in the Library, I worked closely with Alexis and Shannon. They took care of me as their own. From teaching and correcting me when I was wrong to ensuring I ate my food, taking me to the hospital when I was sick, celebrating my success with tears in their eyes ( as I gave my class valedictorian speech) they've always been there for me. I would go on and on about the beautiful memories I have about the Northern College family, but one thing I can say is that Northern College is my home away from home. 

What impact has Northern College had on your life?

Let me start with my experience with the course I took first , Project Management. Being a project manager back in India, I had a lot of hands-on experience on how to run a project. Little did I know that I had such limited knowledge. With my professors' help, I learned so much about the in-depth way of running a project. For example, Professor Jason taught us about Citrix workspace. Once I started off with my course, I realized how much software could have helped me in the past. Professor Jason gave us exciting assignments that pushed me. Along with this, I also learned how to make a professional portfolio through my career planning class.

Northern College didn’t just give me an education — it empowered me. It taught me to be strong, confident, and resilient. As I navigated life in a new country, Northern became more than just a school — it became my support system. From the inspiring professors who believed in me, to the inclusive community that made me feel at home, and the countless leadership opportunities that pushed me out of my comfort zone — Northern College was my foundation. It stood with me every step of the way and helped shape the woman I am today.

What are you up to now?

I work as a Business Development representative at Kitchen Hub in Toronto.

Where are you living now?

Brampton

What Northern campus did you attend?

Timmins