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Overcoming challenges to excel in class and on the volleyball court

When Durham College (DC) hosts the inaugural college/university sitting volleyball tournament next March, Ashley Green will hit the court with pride.

The first-year Recreation Therapy student is an enthusiastic participant in the sport, a modified version of volleyball primarily for athletes with a disability. During play, athletes sit on the floor and attempt to strike the ball over a lowered volleyball net.

At the ParaSport Ontario Awards Brunch earlier this summer, Green was officially introduced as the first member of DC’s sitting volleyball team.

“I’m honored to be the first Durham College student on the team,” she said. “It’s amazing to see the growth of the sport in the last six years, and I’m looking forward to getting to play competitively.”

All DC students are welcome to give the sport a try and tryouts begin this fall, and Green is excited to share it with new teammates and friends.

She initially took up the sport because it accommodated her disabilities.

“Even though I have had many good things happen to me, I’ve also had many obstacles thrown my way throughout my life, from having cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus to being partially paralyzed on the right side of my body. I’ve had several surgeries and SickKids Hospital has been like my second home,” she explained. “But I have never let anyone or anything get in my way or stop me from doing anything I want to do. I just never give up and do things to the best of my ability.”

That determination extends to her studies. She’s committed to giving back to SickKids and helping people deal with their own challenges by working in the healthcare sector. Having previously considered a career in nursing, she is now eager to learn all she can about recreation therapy so she can improve the quality of life for people of all abilities and ages. She believes her compassion, patience and calm demeanour make her ideally suited for the role.

“I love people, and I want to help them because it makes me happy when they’re happy.”

Student ambassadors have all the answers to your DC questions

When considering your academic future, you need to make an informed decision. At Durham College (DC), our student ambassadors are happy to answer all of your questions about post-secondary life.

Launched last year, the Student Ambassador program is comprised of more than a dozen students from various Faculties and programs who are available to provide valuable insights, answer questions, and offer support to their incoming peers as they navigate this new chapter in their lives. New DC applicants can message the ambassador of their choice and they will receive a response within 48 hours.

“It’s about making connections,” explained Magdalena Ramzia, a Conversion Specialist in DC’s Admission Services. “Looking into colleges or programs can be such an overwhelming process, and there are a lot of questions that can’t be answered by staff.”

That’s where ambassadors like Rahesh Doshi come in. As an international student, he has been uniquely suited to advising newcomers to Canada about the changes and challenges that come with studying abroad.

“I loved answering their queries, guiding them and making a positive impact on their journey,” he said.

Having recently graduated from the Supply Chain and Operations Management – Business Administration program, his time as an ambassador is winding down. He recommends incoming students continue to connect with ambassadors to smooth their transition to DC.

Andrew Skerritt was once one of those students. His decision to come to DC for the Supply Chain and Operations – Business program was greatly influenced by the student ambassador he spoke to. Now entering his second year, he has sought out the opportunity to become an ambassador himself.

“It was so helpful to me, and I wanted to give back,” he said. “We all appreciate a guiding hand to help us get comfortable in a new environment, and that’s what the Ambassador program does. That’s priceless to me.”