News Article

Maximizing your knowledge


5/2/2005 2:59:18 PM


Max Way, at just 14 years old, attends college at CNA’s Happy Valley-Goose Bay campus. But he still finds time for the outdoor sports he loves.

By Melissa O’Quinn

When Matthew Way, or Max as his family and friends call him, was a toddler, his parents noticed he displayed early signs of readiness for school.

By the time he was four and living in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Max was enrolled with the Calvert Home School Education program, located in Maryland, U.S. – distance education home schooling designed to teach children the same learning objectives taught in a public classroom.

He continued on the path of home schooling until twelve, when he completed Calvert’s Grade Eight curriculum.

At that time, Max, along with his parents, decided to contact the British Columbia Distance Education Department – with a reputation as one of the best distance education providers in North America – so he could do testing to find out exactly how advanced he was.

Upon completion of the testing, Max discovered that his education level was actually placed at Grade 12.9. Too young to pursue a post-secondary education at that time, Max decided to do a few distant education courses to further his knowledge.

When he was 13, Max saw a poster for College Night at College of the North Atlantic’s Happy Valley-Goose Bay (HVGB) campus – an annual event consisting of information sessions on different programs offered by the college, mainly directed towards potential students and their parents. He attended a session on the College University Transfer Year program (CUTY), and a little over a year later, at just 14 years of age, he enrolled at HVGB campus, making campus history as its youngest student.

Max had to write an entrance achievement test and undergo several interviews conducted by Student Services in order to start the CUTY program. Student Development Officer Sharon Cochrane says Max excelled at everything then, and he continues to do so now.

“Max is not only bright, [he’s] also friendly, polite and personable,” says Cochrane. “He seems to enjoy his time at the college and has adjusted perfectly.”

According to Statistics Canada, the number of students enrolled in home schooling has dropped to 3,045 in 2004 from 3,334 just a year earlier. Regardless, the majority of students enrolled in home schooling have been progressing at the same rates as those in public schools.

Max says he truly appreciates the home schooling program and feels it was ideal in preparing him for the new journey which he has embarked on. He says he’s been adjusting to his new routine just fine, and like any other student, finds both pros and cons to college life.

“The main advantage for me is that I am able to continue learning, and the main disadvantage is that there is no public transportation. I am too young to drive a car to school or work,” says Max.

But that doesn’t seem to slow him down.

“My mobility isn’t restricted too much as the climate in Labrador is conducive to commuting by snowmobile during much of the year, which I greatly enjoy,” he says.

CUTY is designed to give students a full first-year university course load and provide them with a year to adjust before having to leave their homes.

Cochrane says the benefits of CUTY include smaller classes, the ability to study closer to home, and incredible cost savings in tuition and travel.

Max says he agrees 100 per cent.

“College of the North Atlantic has enabled me to access quality post-secondary education while continuing to live and work at home,” says Max.

“I believe CUTY offers students a friendly, affordable first year of university, and I highly recommend that people investigate the many and varied programs available at CNA campuses in their communities.”
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For more information contact:

Stephen Lee
Communications Manager
(709) 643-7929

Or

Tanya Alexander
Public Information Officer
(709) 643-7928