Pathway Explorer Profile: Alana Schwerdfager
Posted on Tuesday, April 5th, 2016
Grade 12 Merivale High School student Alana Schwerdfager is completing her second dual credit course this semester with an eye toward full-time studies at Algonquin next school year.
Success in the demanding Elements and Principles of our Environment course in the Fall gave Schwerdfager the confidence to enrol in a second dual credit course, Visual Dynamics, this semester.
“Any student in the Design program can attest to the amount of work that is required to produce the detailed course projects,” said dual credit support teacher Margie Chaput. “Alana managed to immerse herself in the course and meet the difficult course requirements with keen interest and dedicated effort.”
For Schwerdfager, the dual credit experiences have helped define her pathway toward full-time studies in her chosen field of interior decorating.
“Dual credit gives you a feel for the real thing – an authentic taste”
– Alana Schwerdfager, Dual Credit Student
Both sketching and interior design have have always been passions for Schwerfager, who is in the process of preparing her portfolio for her application to the interior decorating program. If accepted, she’ll already have a head start on her courses.
“The elements and principles course is one of the level-one classes you need, so it’s nice to have one thing done already,” said Schwerdfager.
Schwerdfager hopes to become the second generation in her family to attend Algonquin, with her mother having graduated from the dental assisting program many years ago.
She believes she inherited her artistic side from her father, although she channels it in a different direction. Alana’s father, Lance, is the bassist in Ottawa-band Barry and the Blasters – a blues/classic rock/R&B group that’s played venues such as Bluesfest and dedicates all proceeds from its gigs to charity.
Schwerdfager recently landed a part-time job at Lowe’s, the home improvement retailer, which will give her some related experience in preparation for a career in her field.
“I’ll be a sales associate in the windows and walls and paint department, which relates back to what I want to do,” says Schwerdfager.
She’s also starting to put some thought into what shape her career might take down the road.
“I could see myself starting with an interior decorating firm, and then maybe branching off somewhere on my own.”
About Academic Partnerships:
Pathway Building since 2006. Academic Partnerships works with a comprehensive network of Pathway Builders (community, educational and government stakeholders) to create and deliver on a variety of experiential opportunities to be a college student through hands-on, curriculum-driven experiences for Pathway Explorers (students in grade 7 – 12). With a commitment to the dream development and pathway finding for students prior to starting full-time studies the team has programming at Algonquin College’s three Ontario Campuses: Ottawa, Pembroke, and Perth. For more information visit: algonquincollege.com/ap
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