Master of Education Graduate Eleftheria (Elita) Laios

Elita is originally from Windsor, Ontario but was living in Greece during the time that she pursued her Master's at Werklund. She's actually never been to Calgary!

What first got you interested in a career in education? 

It was when I realized that there was a common theme in the activities that I found meaningful in life; they all seemed to center around teaching, learning, and sharing.

What made you want to study at the Werklund School of Education? 

The program was one of the only Canadian MEd programs online. I wanted to study at a Canadian institution but would be living outside of Canada during the time of my studies.

What was your favourite part about Werklund? What is your most memorable Werklund experience?

The most memorable Werklund experience is having the opportunity to get involved with the Graduate Programs in Education Student Association. This allowed me to then be part of other committees and initiatives which are memorable not only because of the valuable projects I was part of but also because of the human connections that were made.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time with Werklund? 

The most important lesson that I learned is that valuable, people-oriented experiences may occur outside of graduate courses. Show initiative, get involved, and be part of workshops, series, talks, writing groups, associations, conferences, volunteering opportunities, or anything else that can transform your learning into actions that have importance to you or your community.

What advice would you give to those about to begin their journey with Werklund?

Actively seek out opportunities to connect with peers at Werklund: other graduate students, postdocs, instructors, or mentors. There are others that have similar interests and passions to you, and they are also looking for like-minded individuals! And don't forget that there are many Werklund resources to help you through your journey. For example, turn to the Office of Internationalization for building intercultural capacity, or the Office for Teaching and Learning to find student resources. Reach out to student associations in Werklund to ask questions or make suggestions.