Name: Theresa Abraniuk 
Kwantlen Program: Bachelor of Arts in General Studies with a minor in Psychology
Grad Year: 2014
Employed as: Admissions Assistant, KPU
Employer website: www.kpu.ca
What are your primary responsibilities at your job: I evaluate applications and documents for the purpose of student admissions to KPU. It’s a fast-paced environment where I’m constantly learning new things. Keeps me on my toes!
What is your favourite part of your work? I enjoy helping the students find ways to meet requirements for the program they want. It is then very exciting, several years later, to see them graduate.
How do you like to unwind/handle stress? At the end of the day to unwind I take my dog, Sunshine, out walking. I also mediate. I am very grateful to have Sunshine in my life, even on a rainy day. I handle stress in different ways depending on what the stress is. Deep breathing helps me with any kind of stress. Looking at things from a different perspective often gives me reason to wonder, why am I finding this stressful? Breaking things down into manageable pieces works well; why deal with the mountain when I can deal with pebbles?
If you had a time machine and could have lunch with anyone living or dead, who would it be? I would like to have lunch with my great niece’s granddaughter. The world has so much potential and to see what the future holds would be amazing. Who said a time machine had to take you backwards in time?
Where does your inspiration come from? Learning is my inspiration. I enjoy learning new things all the time. I especially love learning from people, they always inspire me to do something.
Where do you see yourself in one, five or 10 years? I’m not sure. I’m starting to work on my bucket list. I will be checking off at least one thing each year.
What are you most proud of? My education did not follow a straight line but had many twists and turns, just like life has. It literally took half my life to finish my degree. I’m proud that I had the fortitude to stick with it and never give up!
Greatest advice for life? Find YOUR path and follow it. Learn who you are and stay true to it.
Favourite Kwantlen moment? Walking across the stage receiving my degree.
What's the last book you read? The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. I read the Chronicles of Narnia as a child and now that I don’t have text books to read, I’m rereading the series. (On my bucket list.)