The email arrived with disappointing news: her application to nursing had been unsuccessful.

For many students, that might have marked the end of the journey. For Ashley Hubbard, it became the beginning.

In 2018, Ashley applied to UBC Okanagan’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Initially, she wasn’t accepted, but was offered another opportunity instead: a place in the Aboriginal Access Studies program, an entrance program that prepares and transitions Indigenous learners into degree programs at UBC Okanagan.

“My path at UBC Okanagan was not the conventional one,” she says. “And Access Studies is an amazing program for students who, like me, have not been in school for a long time, or whose grades aren’t quite high enough to get into the program they want.”

A member of the Wolf Clan from the Kwanlin Dün First Nation in Yukon, Ashley began her undergraduate degree at age 36. Living in West Kelowna, she wanted an education she could pursue close to home. As a wife and mother of two boys, relocating for university wasn’t an option.

After completing the Access Studies program, she entered nursing, earned her bachelor’s degree and continued directly into her master’s studies.

Today, Ashley is completing a Master of Nursing in Indigenous Wellness, and is one of just 20 students across Canada graduating with a focus on Indigenous health and wellness.

What she found at UBC Okanagan was more than the convenience of a campus close to home. She discovered a supportive learning environment that encouraged her to pursue the questions and research that mattered most to her.

“What stood out most was the collaboration with instructors. The program felt very individual and personal. With every project, I could ask, ‘How can I shape this to fit the way that I want to learn and the things that I want to focus on?'” she says. “Every single teacher was so supportive and understanding.”

Pursuing a university degree later in life came with unique challenges—including balancing family responsibilities alongside full-time studies. When Ashley began her studies, her sons were still young children. Today, they’re teenagers. Receiving the Bette Mushta Award for Mature Students in Nursing eased the financial pressure for her family, and allowed Ashley to focus on her education.

“Having people fund this award, really changes a student’s life,” she says. “We never had to worry about finances. We didn’t have to cut things like our kids’ sports. We were able to just live like a normal family.”

As she prepares to graduate, Ashley is already putting her education into practice as an occupational health nurse with the First Nations Health Authority.

“It’s honestly a dream role,” she says. “Next, I plan to do a PhD with the School of Social Sciences—and I want to focus on Autism for First Nations kids across BC and the Yukon.”

What began with a second chance at university is now shaping the next chapter of Ashley’s career—and the communities she hopes to serve. As she looks forward, she won’t forget the donors that helped her along the way.

“On behalf of me and my family, thank you so much! Without you, my dreams would have not been possible.”