Wickenheiser defines term student-athlete
In some cases, maybe most cases, honorary diplomas and degrees are given out for no other reason than a person’s accomplishments in athletics or entertainment.
But you might not find a more deserving recipient than Hayley Wickenheiser, who received an honorary diploma from NorQuest College of Edmonton on Thursday.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist is one of the greatest hockey players of all time, but even more impressive is a lifelong commitment to education.
While balancing motherhood and full-time responsibilities with the national women’s hockey program, Wickenheiser continually chipped away at her schooling, eventually earning a Master’s degree in science from the University of Calgary at age 37.
Now 39, Wickenheiser is setting her sights on becoming a doctor.
“I think women players have to think a lot more about life after hockey, but that’s a positive thing for your overall mental health and well-being because you are forced to have that pause and think, ‘ What is my next life going to look like?’”
It has the potential to be just as impressive and inspiring as her last life. But it’s been a long and grinding road to get here.
“It took me 16 years to get my undergrad degree because I was raising my son, who is graduating from Grade 12 next week,” she said. “It’s funny how time flies. I chipped away at it over the years but I always knew it would be a priority because of how I was raised.”
Wickenheiser says the desire and courage to go back to school was passed down from her mother, Marilyn. Seeing her mom return to university after taking time off to have three children was all the inspiration Hayley needed.
“I was eight years old, my mom went back to school to upgrade,” said Wickenheiser, whose parents are teachers. “She actually moved away to go to school in Regina and we were living in Shaunavon, which is about a four-hour drive. She lived in residence and became a student again in her late 30s.
“I remember vividly when she graduated, watching her walk across the stage. She was probably the oldest student in the class.
“We had been through the separation of her living in dorms and all the stuff she had to endure to help give us a better life. I’ll never forget that moment. Cheering, being so excited.
“So when I graduated with my undergrad at the University of Calgary I made my son come to the ceremony because I wanted him to see it, too, me walking across that stage.”
Juggling school, hockey and a son was never easy, but the rewards speak for themselves. And it will make for a stunning resume.
“It just came down to time management,” said Wickenheiser, who wants to work in emergency medicine and was job-shadowing in Calgary ERs while still playing for Canada. “Being a student was actually good for my hockey career. I didn’t ruminate on hockey 24 hours a day. School gave me a nice positive distraction.
“I found it pretty manageable, I just had to cut out a lot of other things in my life. It came down to my family, hockey and school. I really enjoyed that.”
Wickenheiser has been honoured by schools before, but says this one is special because of the NorQuest demographics.
“It caters to students who are upgrading or new Canadians, single moms, that type of thing ...
“I think for a lot of people at NorQuest, getting a diploma, walking across the stage, it will be unimaginable to have this moment. I empathize with that, I respect that a lot. It takes a lot to go back later in life.”