SHE'S ON A PATH TO SUCCESS

Shannon Dyer was talking about what she called her "lack of courage" to do things.

Yes, lack of courage.

A resident of Toronto, she's a single parent mother of three, working part-time as a pharmacy assistant and also returning to college at the age of 37.

That's courage – and much more.

And just one more thing, Dyer is also the oldest member of the George Brown College cross-country team.

At the recent Fanshawe College Invitational in London, Dyer was also the quickest female runner among the George Brown contingent and finished a five kilometre race in just 22 minutes. That was good enough for 19th place among 58 competitors.  

It was also her first major race since her high school days at Toronto's Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Secondary and then shuffled off to graduate at Parkdale Collegiate. That, as you can imagine, was also a few years ago.  

Dyer has since competed in a variety of marathons – for fun.  

"It's a great feeling to run – motivates me to do well in things," said Dyer. "And with everything else in my life, none of it would be possible if I didn't have a great family network to help." 

After graduating from high school, Dyer chose to put off post-secondary education.  

For six years, Dyer was as a bartender before determining there had to be a better way to spend her life.  

So, it was off to Centennial College for a pharmacy technician program. But after her first year, Dyer said she secured a part-time job as a pharmacy assistant.  

"It was fine, but I wanted a career change – and lacked the courage to do something," she said. "Then, I decided it was time to seriously focus on something. It was nursing, but I had to take a qualifying program to get in to George Brown."     

Successful at that, Dyer is completing her first year of George Brown's two-year practical nursing program and tinkering with the idea of becoming a Registered Nurse.  

"I am happy, I have worked hard to get to where I am and there's more to come for me, said Dyer. "I'm a mom, a student and work as a pharmacy student. It's a lot, but it has to be done and I am determined to see it through."

Source: George Brown College

Photo Credit: Thomas Chung