During the graduation ceremony at the Lower Nicola school gym, parents, grand-parents and other family members were gathered to share in the sheer joy of the graduates. These young people overcame obstacles such as being native, or from a Reserve. Why do I say this? Because, several years back, not too many native students graduated. If one did, then that was truly applauded. These days, native students can graduate, and this is possible because of principals and teachers that have recognized the potential of aboriginal students and have encouraged them to succeed.

Two guest speakers were chosen to share their success and how they met their personal goals, one being Andrea Sterling. She talks of her journey of the two roads. One being the western society and the other, her own traditional ways which she inherited from her mother Marsha Sterling and her late father John Sterling. She continues to learn from her step-father Greg Sterling.

Andrea gives due credit for her strength to her family of bold, outspoken and loving women.The women in her community are great role models and have done what it takes to become successful women.

Andrea tells the students that the women in her community as well as the ones in her own family have given her the drive to be the successful woman she knows she can become.

Andrea attended Collettville school in her early years. Her family moved to Ontario, where she attended W.J.Fricker Middle School in North Bay. Andrea graduated from Widdifield Secondary School, which had the Arts Nipissing Program, which aided her graduation requirements along with comprehensive study in a choice of Arts disciplines: Dance, Dramatic Arts, Films and Video, Media Arts, Vocal Music or Instrumental Music. Andrea has a major in Dance and minor in Media Arts. Along with these , Andrea has received the Arts Nipissing certificate. She has also her Diploma. Right out of high school, she continued on to Canadore College which is located in North Bay, to study in the Hotel Resort and Restaurant Management. After the first year, Andrea did her practicum in the Muskokas in Ontario at a five star resort. Andrea then decided to take time off and work. During that time she reflected on her big decision to move back to her hometown here in Merritt, B.C. She says this decision was by far the best one she made.

Andrea now travels the two roads she walks, one coming from the western society, and the other, her own heritage, which she is learning the traditional values and beliefs.

Andrea did live in the non-native society moving away from her family roots to another province, yet, despite all this, she made out very well. She tells the students, though she attended school in Ontario, she did not find it difficult to make friends.

Andrea Sterling is a mother of two daughters, Hayden who is four years old, and Brooke who will soon be six. They are members of the Lower Nicola Indian Band. Andrea is engaged to Craig Shintah who is a member of the Upper Nicola Band. Their planned wedding day is in October.

Andrea credits her family, and the women who were her role models; also, learning of her traditional and culture has enabled her to live a strong healthy lifestyle. Knowing and understanding the power of her inherited culture has taught her to understand herself much better and she embraces all it has to offer. Andrea is an advocate for her language; she sits on the Language Board and is currently working on the N’lekepmuxcin (Thompson) Archive at the First Voices website.

Andrea Sterling is an example to every young native person out there that it is possible to climb that mountain of success, dream big.

Andrea has further to climb. Though she is midway, she plans to continue to finish up the Academic of Arts – Social Work program this coming September. After completion, she plans to continue on to the third year of Bachelor of Social Work program. The past year, Andrea Sterling received the Gordon Antoine Scholarship of $5000. In order to be eligible to receive this same scholarship, she has to maintain a 3.0 GPA. She has done this so she will receive the Gordon Antoine Scholarship of $5000, again this September.

Andrea Sterling is not planning to stop her pursuit of learning anytime soon. She plans to be on Student Council at NVIT so she can be a voice for the students.

Andrea has her vision, not just for today, but well into the future. She looks forward to the health and well being of her community as well as her neighbors – the people who are non-native. It is where her daughters, and her family are living and growing. Her hope is that security and wellness be there for her and everyone around her. She will bring these essential tools back to her community to help heal and move forward in a healthy manner.

As for her culture and heritage, she says, she only wants what is best for her family, and everyone else.

Thank you Andrea Sterling, truly, what you have is worthy and will be cherished by many.