Tragic history inspires degree

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Gord Bruyer, assistant professor at the University of Victoria school of social work, remembers Melody Johnson's attitude as always unfailingly positive and hopeful.

Johnson, 46, graduated with a bachelor's degree in Social Work after six years of conducting her education through distance learning.

Married for 24 years, she is the mother of three children and grandmother to eight and was born and raised in Prince Rupert.

"One of the things that I admire about Melody is that she understands what overcoming challenges means. She's had to overcome many in her personal life and I think because of that she is an inspirational person," said Bruyer. "She is a positive influence on everyone who meets her. What I also really admire and respect about Melody is that she proud of her Aboriginal culture. It is really important to her and this is something that comes across when you meet her," he said.

The challenges in Johnson's life prompted her to take the social work degree. When Johnson was six, her mother was murdered and as an orphan and a child that has dealt with extreme trauma she's had to face many obstacles.

"I have four siblings, one brother and three sisters. They are all into unhealthy lifestyles and so was I at one time. I thought, as a way to help them and to figure out why it is like that for us, I got into social work," said Johnson. "People do not have to live like that. People do not have to live the horrible life of alcoholism or drug abuse. We could help ourselves get over these types of problems," she said.

As the youngest member in her family, Johnson was 39 years old when she decided to go back to school.

"It was really hard when I first started. I think that Math and English were the hardest. Math was the hardest for me, because I could never get the multiplication table right and English because I actually did not speak English until I was seven years old," said Johnson.

Three years ago she was diagnosed with Glaucoma, an eye disease that causes sight loss.

"I have two years left before my sight is gone. My grandmother was blind so maybe I inherited it," said Johnson. "I will be trained as a peer counsillor at the [Canadian National Institute for the Blind] to help other people who have been diagnosed with the disease or maybe who are blind," she said.

Before she was diagnosed with the disease, Johnson's goal was to train in art therapy.

"But you need your sight for that. A friend that I went to school with gave me a pottery wheel so I'm going to practice doing pottery and stuff like that. Another friend gave me a guitar, and I know if I lose my sight that I will need to keep busy. I still can see but I have days when I get really tired and my eyes get irritated. I'd really like to thank my husband and children for helping me out and giving me the space that I needed while I was studying," she said.