Success stories: aboriginal students and access to post-secondary education

This narrative study shares and honours the experiences of five Aboriginal students in grades 10 through 12 and my own personal story from Prince George, BC. The purpose of the study was to identify contributing influences that encouraged success for Aboriginal student participants, as seen by the students themselves. The narratives revealed barriers the students had to overcome in order to fulfill their goals and the way they explored their own interests to discover their strengths. Student narratives revealed leaders and mentors that contributed to their success these people varied from friends to family and many other community and school-based people. The academic and social success of these students varied and created interesting stories that may inform the development of programs to support Aboriginal youth. The school that participated in the study has a process that encourages Aboriginal students to succeed although that process is not thoroughly examined the student stories reveal the success of the process along with other family and community influences. A common thread throughout these stories is competency. Although these students appeared to have little access to culturally responsive teaching, the common foundation of their success was skill development in an area they were proud of and that contributed to a goal for post-secondary achievement. --P. ii.