Road to education a family affair for Parkland alumni

Whenever Randall Munroe wrote a test, he made sure there was a little pink toque perched on the edge of his desk.

As a single father returning to school, Munroe’s journey wasn’t easy. The little hat that once kept his daughter’s head warm on the way home from the hospital was a reminder of why he was doing it, and why he needed to keep going.

“My daughter was about nine months old when I first started going to school,” Munroe said. “I wanted to be an example for her when she got older, and I wanted to be able to provide for her.”

And the road to further education was a family affair. Munroe and his mother, Frances Munroe, both enrolled in Assiniboine Community College’s Mature Student High School at the college’s Parkland campus at the same time.

Frances and her younger children — Munroe’s siblings — would leave their home in Roblin by 7 a.m., hit the gas station to fill up their little Kia Soul and grab a coffee before driving an hour into Dauphin and getting everyone to school.

After classes, Frances would collect everyone and head right back home, she said, where Munroe would be waiting.

“It was just a hustle to get back home. (Randall) would be waiting at the door with his coat on because as soon as we walked in he had to whip back (to Dauphin) for a six o’clock class,” Frances said. “It was quite the experience … We couldn’t all go to school during the day, we had a baby, so that’s just the way it went.”

Juggling a single car and a long highway drive were the least of their challenges, Munroe said, adding that he was also going through a custody battle in Saskatchewan at the same time.

“There were times it was really stressful…Some days I would have to be in Regina for court and then try to get school done, so I was dealing with court issues all at the same time as doing my homework. I spent a lot of time having that in the back of my mind while trying to learn,” Munroe said. “I tried not to think about it and dug into my homework, my school, and it kept me sane. We’d have journal sessions in English and I’d write down my issues, which helped a lot.”

Having a good support system also helped, he said.

“My mom was so supportive. I would text her and ask how (my daughter) was doing. I was always a text message away,” Munroe said. “Our instructors were also very understanding and very supportive. They understood my situation and helped me quite a bit.”

In their small class, Kristy Jamieson, Learning Specialist at Assiniboine’s Parkland campus, said Munroe stood out.

“I would notice when he’d pull out the little hat and put it on the table while he was writing a test, or if he had his hand in his pocket, I would know he was holding onto that hat in a time that was a little more trying,” Jamieson said. "It pulls on your heartstrings.”

It was clear from the beginning that Munroe had a goal and that he was determined to succeed, Jamieson said.

“He put the work in, took the extra credits, and he got it done — which is not an easy task … he put in the effort, worked really hard and got that diploma,” Jamieson said. “One of my favourite things about our adult learning program here at Assiniboine is when we get students in who have lived life for a little while and now realize they have a goal that they want to accomplish. They come in so determined to reach their goals, so to have even a little part in that is incredibly rewarding.”

In 2020, Munroe and Frances graduated together. A blown up picture of the two of them — mother and son in their cap and gowns — hangs in both their homes.

“I graduated at 50 years old. Having (Randall) graduate with me in his 30s … it was awesome,” Frances said. “In the end, I was really grateful to go back to high school and pursue my Grade 12 and then to inspire him to also pursue his. When you look back, I don’t know how we did it. But we did, and it’s amazing.”

Munroe wanted to continue his education, he said, so he looked into the Comprehensive Health Care Aide program. After getting everything together that he needed to apply in only two weeks, he was accepted.

“I never thought I’d be in this field, it just kind of happened. I really love it,” Munroe said. “I love interacting with people and working with people. I like taking care of people, I take care of my daughter, I just like being able to make sure people are taken care of and that they’re safe.”

Munroe is now working as a home care aide, but plans to continue his education and get his Practical Nursing diploma.

He hopes his journey inspires his daughter to follow in his footsteps, he said.

“When she sees me in scrubs, it will seem normal, and hopefully she’ll want to do it too,” Munroe said. “I want to be a positive role model.”

Frances says that he already is.

“I’m so proud of him. This is what he wanted and he went and did it,” Frances said. “He’s an awesome role model for his daughter. Not only for his daughter, but for his siblings as well. They’re watching him do all this.”

Munroe encouraged those who might be considering furthering their education to just take the leap.

“Don’t focus solely on your end goal, take it step-by-step,” Munroe said. “You can finish it, you just have to start.”

“It’s so easy for us to put ourselves down, when do we ever lift ourselves up?” Frances added. “When we started all of this, I wasn’t sure if there was going to be a graduation at the end of it, I didn’t know if we were going to make it. But we did, and we’re all capable, with the right mindset.”