2021 Indigenous Scholarship Essay Winner

CanScribe Career College offers one $1,000 Scholarship to Indigneous individuals interested in taking CanScribe’s online Medical Transcription/Healthcare Documentation Specialist training program. Entrants submit a one to two-page essay describing their personal motivation for applying, including background information, how this career choice will impact their life, their plan of action to complete the course, as well as their future aspirations. Further details can be found here. Below is the entry from our 2021 Indigenous Scholarship Essay Winner, Kimberly Belton.

2021Indigenous Scholarship Essay Winner

“My name is Kimberly Belton and I am applying for CanScribe’s Indigenous Scholarship. 

With our sons just launching their post-secondary education and careers, my husband and I choose to commit a substantial portion of our budget to assist them on their different paths. This is very important to us. We have struggled financially throughout our life together, but continue to overcome any obstacle set in our path. We want to ensure that our boys are supported and do not carry the financial stress that we know can be debilitating and can derail our dreams. This is my motivation for applying for the scholarship. 

My Métis heritage comes from my mother’s side, specifically her father, my grandfather. His life was not an easy one; both of his parents dying at young ages, leaving him an orphan. The remarkable thing, however, is not the tragedy of his young life, but the “rising out of the ashes” that occurred in the years that followed. My grandfather, Luc Lambert, was not only able to find his true calling and passion, but to make a life and support a family of his own from it.

He was a simple hunter, fisherman and trapper; but the best of his kind. He knew the lay of the land like no other and was so successful that often times he was paid as a guide by American tourists who would take hunting trips up to our pristine northern forests for some of the best hunting available. A source of pride and a wonderful story that has been passed on through the years, is that one of his American customers was the famous actor, Clark Gable. 

I find it inspiring and a strong contributor to my self-worth that I come from such perseverance, hardiness, endurance and raw talent. The challenges he faced, from inconceivable loss to childhood instability to poverty to surviving some of the harshest weather conditions that exist, would seem insurmountable to most people. Through all of it, he not only emerged as a leader in his trade but more importantly, he was a very happy human being with a zest for life; grateful to the good Lord for the family he was blessed with. 

I have been in the work force since I was 16 years-old; for 33 years now. I have always worked hard and even when I did not love the work I was doing, I gave my best effort. I really don’t think that I am capable of giving less. I have always been grateful to have the job I had, but a couple of years back, for the first time, I began to notice the reasons why my employer should be grateful to have me as an employee. Without sounding boastful, I really came to realize that the dedication, conscientiousness and purposefulness that I possess are rare.

Unfortunately, I also noticed that these things are overlooked and undervalued in most cases. At the same time, I began researching careers that are done on a freelance basis, and the concept of self-employment. When I came upon transcription, I thought, “I was meant to do this”. The fact that it is such a detail-oriented job, and qualities like meticulousness and attention to detail are not only appreciated, but required, make this the perfect choice for me. 

This career choice will impact my life significantly. Being my own boss is something that I will take very seriously, and I feel that all of my strengths will be heightened by knowing that the work is truly my own and that my name and reputation will be stamped onto every piece of it. Working in my very own home and workspace is also a source of excitement for me. Last year, with schools being closed in March, I had the opportunity to experiment with working from home and I absolutely loved it!

I found that I was more productive and my work was that much better. Being able to set my own hours, I was able to work longer days without feeling the exhaustion that comes with a nine to five shift that must be adhered to regardless of personal circumstances. I feel that my personal and professional lives both thrived in this setting. Also, I live on a beautiful farm in a rural setting, and not having that commute every day would not only save me the stress of driving in inclement weather, but would also save me time and money. 

My plan of action to complete the course would be to jump in with both feet and do as much as possible during the month of August, as I do not work during the summer months. Beginning in September, when I return to work, I would continue to make completing the course a priority and set aside as much time as necessary to continue at an aggressive pace. The sooner I am able to complete the course and begin employment as a transcriptionist, the better for me! 

My future goals and aspirations include becoming a sought-after transcriptionist, both in the medical and legal fields. I would very much like to earn the Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist designation and eventually, become a Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist. Essentially, I aspire to take this career path as far as I can. My ultimate goal is to be able to exceed my current earnings while enjoying a career that offers me flexibility and satisfaction, all under the umbrella of my own small business.”

-Essay by Kimberly Belton

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If you’re an indigenous individual, military member, military spouse or military family member, a police member or police family member, someone who has had to deal with a lot of difficulty in life or has done a lot for your community, or someone who wants to study at our Kelowna campus, you may qualify for a CanScribe scholarship. Learn about the different scholarships here and apply if you feel you qualify. Remember: It never hurts to try! Students can only take advantage of one scholarship or bursary at a time.