The Learning Never Ends: Meet Kelly MacNeil

For Kelly MacNeil, the learning journey never ends. After working in healthcare for 36 years, as retirement neared, she chose a different path than most and decided to go back to school. Currently in the Bachelor of Arts program, Kelly is enjoying her time at CBU and is grateful that she decided to return.

Born and raised in Sydney, Kelly first enrolled at what was then the University College of Cape Breton (UCCB – now CBU) in the 1980s. Like many young students at the time, Kelly was unsure of what path to follow, and life eventually led her in a different direction. She went on to build a successful career in healthcare before retiring.

“I always felt that I missed out by not completing my degree,” she says. “Then I thought, after all these years, ‘Could I do it?’ I wanted to take that challenge to complete the degree I started all those years ago.”

With a concentration in Communication, Kelly took Communication Facilitation and Facilitation Practicum to qualify to become a Lab Facilitator. This role allowed her to apply what she learned from courses such as Interpersonal Communication and Public Communication, while helping guide students through the Communication lab.

“Some of the topics included were speeches, interviewing, effective listening, verbal and non-verbal communication and my favourite, conflict management,” she shares. “These are skills that are important not only in the workplace but in everyday life. The lab exercises build on classroom learning, and students leave those courses with experience in all those skills.”

What Kelly didn’t expect was how deeply she would reconnect with the CBU community and how much of an impact she would make on a new generation of learners. In Spring 2024, she was honoured with the Pearl Peers Peer Facilitator Award, presented to an outstanding communication lab facilitator who goes above and beyond.

The award is extra special for Kelly as Pearl Peers was her lab facilitator more than 40 years ago. “Pearl had a positive presence, and she made everyone feel so comfortable participating in the lab exercises while making it so much fun,” she shares. “I hope I was able to provide a positive environment for the students as Pearl did for me. I remember all those years ago, thinking this would be such a fun job, and years later, I got to do that job!”

For Kelly, going back to school has reinforced her lifelong love of learning. Throughout her healthcare career, she regularly took work-related and personal development courses. “I wasn’t looking for work after my degree, so in addition to the required courses, I picked fun and different courses, and they were so interesting,” she shares. “I am drawn to learning opportunities that I can apply in my life, like interpersonal communication. We’ve all had difficult conversations, and if there’s any chance I can learn to do that better, I will take it.”

Returning to university as a mature student took courage, but Kelly quickly found support and belonging among her classmates and professors. “I was a little hesitant to attend classes with people so much younger than myself, but they are so welcoming and accepting of this old lady,” she laughs. “The professors are fantastic and always set us up for success.”

When Kelly talks to others about going back to school, she says many consider but hesitate to take the next step. She encourages them to take the leap. “If you’re thinking about it, just go for it,” she says. “CBU offers amazing support to guide you through course selection and completing your degree. You won’t be doing it alone.”