Emily Gushue is no stranger to milestones.
When the NC alumnus got her high school diploma, she was a member of the 100th graduating class at Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School.
And Tuesday, when her name was called in the afternoon virtual convocation ceremony, Gushue became Niagara College’s 100,000 graduate.
“I have goosebumps right now,” Gushue said when she learned of this latest significant moment. “I definitely was not expecting this at all.”
With that, Gushue, who was tipped off to the news prior to the ceremony, put on a graduation gown and posed in front of a congratulatory sign staked on her front lawn in Ridgeway while her family cheered her on.
In addition to being No. 100,000, Gushue received her diploma in Community and Justice Services.
The two-year program wasn’t Gushue’s first choice when she contemplated returning to school a few years ago. Gushue, 30, had her heart set on becoming a police officer.
“I’ve always been told I’m that protector; I follow the rules,” she said. “I was always told by my mom I’m that person.”
But then she attended an orientation event in July 2019 and learned she could channel those characteristics into another satisfying career.
Gushue was the only person on that particular tour of NC, giving her a one-on-one opportunity to discuss her options, including in Community and Justice Services, which had a field placement. Studying in the program still gave her the option of pursuing policing, but it also opened doors to other possibilities thanks to that work experience combined with classroom learning.
Once the tour was over, she filled out an application for the program and never looked back.
Even when classes began in September 2019 and she sat with Police Foundations students in some of her lectures, Gushue was certain she was on the right path.
“The more and more I talked to my professors, and the more I learned, I realized I made the right decision — that social service in the community was the right thing,” she said. “I found myself wanting to learn more. The things you do in the community, mental health and addictions, get overlooked a lot. If I can help people like that, I want to do that. It’s something that tugs at my heart strings. I found my niche, where I’m supposed to be.”
It was a challenge when learning switched to an online forum in March 2020, she admitted. Gone were the gatherings with classmates after in-person lectures to discuss concepts or do homework, and she missed that social time.
When Gushue was assigned group work online, the challenge was co-ordinating schedules. Still, everyone came together, including when some personal issues arose, taking Gushue’s attention away from school for a time.
“My group was super supportive,” she said. “And with other group members, it was the same — they were going through things, too, and I tried to be supportive of them.
“I’m proud to say I graduated with an 85 per cent GPA through a lot of stuff.”
Her placement, which was with Start Me Up in Niagara, was still able to proceed in person. The experience was a profound one, she recalled.
“The three months I spent there were amazing, getting to know people, gaining that rapport and getting people to trust you. I heard they were coming in after (students) left and asking where me and my classmates were,” Gushue said. “It hurts in a way but it was something that definitely fit me, for sure. I loved my placement and did not want to leave.”
Now a career awaits, starting with a part-time relief position at The RAFT, a resource service for at-risk and homeless youth in Niagara.
It seems to be Gushue’s calling. She began developing a knack for working with young people when her mother ran an in-home day care while she was growing up.
“It’s nice to work with youth,” she said. “You get to help them find housing and help with their resumés. You get to just be a friend and show them that not everyone in the world is a bad person.”
