Finding a home

How one student discovered her path after leaving foster care

Finding a home
CategoryStudent
NameVerukah Poirier
FromCree and Métis | Williams Lake, BC
ProgramFirst Nations and Indigenous Studies, minor in Law and Society

Before Verukah Poirier aged out of foster care at 19, she was worried about supporting herself after becoming a legal adult. 

Verukah achieved a trades certificate in hairdressing while in high school, but dreamed of following a more academic path. She began her undergraduate studies at Langara College before arriving at UBC as a transfer student, where, as a youth from care, she didn’t have to pay tuition fees. Now in the fourth year of her degree, she has excelled in her classes, built a strong network of lifelong friends, and is proud to call UBC home.

 

Can you talk about your experiences growing up in care?

My family and I are Cree and Métis from Alberta and Saskatchewan, but I grew up in Williams Lake in British Columbia, away from my family’s reserve. My primary caretaker was my Kôhkom (grandmother), but I did spend a large portion of my childhood in foster care, in a group home or on a youth agreement away from my family and my hometown. I aged out of the child welfare system at the age of 19 in the city of Surrey.

 

Did you always aspire to go to university?

Absolutely. University was a huge dream of mine – one I didn’t know was achievable. I’ve always loved learning and felt most comfortable in a classroom. Growing up in care often brought a lot of instability, but no matter where I lived, I could always rely on school.

 

Verukah Poirier Former Youth in Care

 

Why did you choose to come to UBC, and what was your journey here?

I decided to come to UBC because I had heard about their Social Work program, and I thought it would be the perfect fit for me. At the time, UBC was one of the only universities in Vancouver that had its own personal tuition waiver program for youth in care, so it made the decision easier. However, because I left high school for a year to pursue a trades certificate, I was a little behind on the entrance requirements for UBC. So I started my post-secondary education at Langara College, and transferred to UBC in my third year through the UBC-Langara Aboriginal Transfer Partnership.

 

How did you choose your campus and program?

I visited UBC Vancouver once to meet with an enrolment services advisor, and I fell in love with the beauty of the campus. I knew instantly that this is where I wanted to be every day. I decided to major in First Nations and Indigenous studies because I thought it would make for a smooth transition into Social Work. However, I found my passion in Indigenous Law, and decided to minor in Law and Society rather than continue into Social Work. I’m planning on starting at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC in September next year.

 

I have definitely received more support than I could imagine at UBC.

 

How did you find the transition to UBC?

In one word: overwhelming. But with the support of many peers and faculty at UBC, I managed to overcome my anxiety and start to make sincere connections on campus. Personally, I find it difficult to make and maintain strong relationships due to my time in care. However, I can say that the community at UBC made it easy for me build a great network of lifetime friends. I can honestly say that I have found the family I always wanted at UBC.

 

Former Youth in Care Verukah Poirier

 

At UBC – as well as other post-secondary institutions in the province – individuals who have grown up in care don’t have to pay tuition fees. Did you take advantage of that?

Yes – these types of financial supports have allowed me to focus on my education. Programs such as UBC’s Post Care Tuition Waiver have taken a huge financial burden off of my shoulders. As a former youth in care, I didn’t have the opportunity to have money put away for my education. I feel that UBC as an institution has taken on that for us, and allowed us to worry less about money and focus more on reaching our goals.

 

Have you felt supported through your time at UBC, and in what ways does the school help you?

I have definitely received more support than I could imagine at UBC. With the help of my Enrolment Service Advisor, Chris, and my Aboriginal Academic Advisor, Karlene, I have managed to find social, academic, and financial support whenever I have needed it. They have always connected me to resources and supports whenever I have asked.

 

What does a typical day look like for you?

My schedule revolves around my three-month-old daughter right now. So whenever she is ready to wake up, we get ready and head to campus. When we get there, we’ll go to class – which she usually sleeps through – and then I go to the Indigenous student lounge in the AMS Nest, where I let her visit with my friends while I socialize and get some homework done. In my free time, I’m either playing with my daughter, or hanging out with my friends on campus. We usually will bead, watch movies, or just talk about current events in the Indigenous lounge.

 

Verukah Poirier Former Youth in Care

 

Are you part of any clubs or extracurricular teams or groups?

I currently am the social media rep for the Indigenous Committee on campus. The Indigenous Committee is a student-run organization formed last year that is focused on bringing Indigenous presence on campus, as well as supporting Indigenous students, activities, and education at UBC.

 

UBC has really become the home I have always dreamed of.

 

Would you recommend that other individuals from care apply to UBC?

Definitely. UBC has been an integral part of my success after I aged out of care. UBC has given me the support and the tools I need to build a future for my daughter and I that I am proud of. University can be so daunting to youth in care because it is a four-year commitment. However, there is no other place that I would have rather spent these last few years than here. UBC has really become the home I have always dreamed of.

 

What do you wish that current youth in care knew about UBC?

I wish I would have known how much support was waiting for us when we started at UBC. Not only is there an abundance of financial help such as scholarships, bursaries, and tuition waivers, but there are also emotional supports and people here who understand what is means to be a youth in care. There are spaces for everyone on campus, and if you let it, UBC can be the place that you really succeed in, and the place you call home.

 

Latest Stories

Previous
Richelle smiling on the stairs at UBC Okangan

Arts student Richelle on studying Indigenous Literature at UBC Okanagan

student

Arts student Richelle on studying Indigenous Literature at UBC Okanagan

"UBC has given me countless amounts of opportunities and support throughout my academic journey. Specifically, within the Indigenous Program Services Department where I was able to create community and connect with other Indigenous students." - Richelle A-B., Bachelor of Arts
Rahman sitting on stairs at UBC Okanagan

Manufacturing Engineering student Rahman on how his passions helped shape his university experience

student

Manufacturing Engineering student Rahman on how his passions helped shape his university experience

"The close-knit community of the campus fosters a very supportive learning environment. I find it very easy to get to know people here and have personalized interactions with both my profs and peers which have been very instrumental in my success so far. The natural beauty of the Okanagan has encouraged me to integrate more outdoor activities into my life, which I find helps my mental and physical health. Overall, the Okanagan campus has not only been a place of academic growth but also a source of personal development. The connections I've made and the skills I've developed here are invaluable and something I will be carrying with me for a long time in life." - Rahman G., Manufacturing Engineering

Global Resource Systems alum Julia on the benefits of a smaller faculty

alumni

Global Resource Systems alum Julia on the benefits of a smaller faculty

"My program, Global Resource Systems, was the perfect fit for me, as I got to apply my passion for sustainable food systems with environmental science, all while focusing on real-world action through an interdisciplinary lens. I was encouraged to take my learning outside of the classroom and apply my learning in other settings, and with so many options, it meant that I could create the exact right combination of experiences to fuel my aspirations and unearth new goals along the way." - Julia T.
Elleda standing in front of a concrete wall

Political Science student Elleda on why transferring to UBC was the best decision she ever made

student

Political Science student Elleda on why transferring to UBC was the best decision she ever made

"When I originally came to UBC as a transfer student, I was unsure of what I wanted my academic and career futures to be. I had just spent a year studying musical theatre in the United States, and realized it wasn’t the right path for me. After taking a campus tour of UBC Vancouver and speaking to the incredible student ambassadors, I knew transferring to UBC was a step onto the right path. Two years later, and it is the best decision I have ever made, though it was extremely scary and nerve-wracking at first." - Elleda S., Political Science
Noah reading a book in the Indigenous Centre

Supporting Indigenous students in higher education

Inspiring educator Noah on pursuing his passions to help Indigenous communities
alumni

Supporting Indigenous students in higher education

"My passion to support Indigenous educational methodologies allowed me to work with my local Syilx community building more connections between community and education for Indigenous youth. This passion drove me to build relationships across both campuses and use UBC’s vast web of connections across the globe to earn credits, work experience, and conduct research to shape my own unique educational experience." - Noah C., Bachelor of Arts
Peter I standing on stairs at UBC Okanagan

Transitioning from Nigeria to the Okanagan

A Computer Science student in the Faculty of Arts, Peter gets to pursue what he loves at UBC Okanagan
student

Transitioning from Nigeria to the Okanagan

"Coming out of high school, I knew I absolutely loathed physics, wanted to avoid math at all costs, and loved solving complex problems with computer science. As such, finding out about the Computer Science major in the Bachelor of Arts at UBC was monumental for me because it meant that I could tailor my degree to prioritize my strengths and help me avoid my weaknesses." - Peter I., Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
Abby with her laptop on the UBC Okanagan campus

Embracing new opportunities

Management student Abby on discovering her passions at UBC Okanagan
student

Embracing new opportunities

"The ability to be in a smaller tight-knit community while having access to the resources of a larger intuition is a large reason as to why I chose the Okanagan campus. I love being a big fish in a small pond and getting to pursue different opportunities in a competitive yet supportive environment has allowed me to put myself out there, learn from my mistakes, and more importantly try again! I also love that I’m not just a number, my faculty and professors know me by name and we’re able to have meaningful conversations about their research, shared interests, and their journey of getting to where they are today." - Abby N., Bachelor of Management
Jamie walking outside the Longhouse on the Vancouver campus

Inspired to become a better person

How Jamie has connected her Kinesiology degree with her Indigeneity
student

Inspired to become a better person

"When I chose to study Kinesiology at UBC, I knew I wanted to find ways I could connect my degree with my Indigeneity. Throughout my degree I have been a member of multiple committees that promote equity and diversity for Indigenous peoples, taken courses directly related to Indigenous health & wellness, and have learned from numerous Indigenous professors and mentors in Kinesiology. All of these experiences have strengthened my desire to use my degree to connect with community and advocate for Indigenous representation in health and physical activity spaces." - Jamie C., Bachelor of Kinesiology
next