“It’s an incredible feeling to be recognized among all my peers,” says Aidan Glassco of being named this year’s Dean’s Award winner for having the highest GPA of all students in NC’s School of Allied Health.
“This award represents such a high level of academic achievement, and while I studied to do the best I could within the program, it’s an honour to be acknowledged for what I have accomplished academically here at Niagara College.”
Glassco will graduate from the Paramedic program during the college’s final spring 2023 convocation ceremony on June 16. He says it was the excellent reputation of the school’s Paramedic program that led him to enroll at Niagara College after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Brock University.
“After completing my studies at Brock and having the opportunity to work within the communities which make up the Niagara region, I realized that I wanted to continue my education locally here at Niagara College,” Glassco says. “I have always had an interest in the health care field, having a strong desire to serve those in need. My passion stems from my interest in medicine and the human body, along with being able to care for those on their worst days.”
Glassco credits a strong support system and personal sacrifice for his high level of success. His family and his fiancée were the ones who pushed him through challenging times over the course of the program, he says. “I know I would not be here without [them].”
He says believes that no matter what someone’s trying to accomplish, being relentless and giving it their all is what will lead to long-term success. That’s exactly what he tried to do, particularly when it came to overcoming challenges such as scenario testing and certification for his practicum experience.
“I will never forget the feeling of success and relief when accomplishing such stressful and demanding tasks which I had worked so hard to achieve,” he says.
Of the program itself, Glassco says it was the quality of the instructors that stood out the most. They were passionate about the content they were teaching and always acting in the best interest of their students.
“This allowed for a high-quality learning environment, giving students the opportunity to excel through getting those burning questions answered and offering extra support and accommodation to those in need,” he says.
As a result, Glassco says he feels equipped to take on a leadership role in various situations, and more confident about navigating difficult conversations and making challenging decisions as part of a working group.
“[That] is essential when tackling crisis circumstances as a paramedic.”
Since completing his program, Glassco has received offers from various paramedic services in Ontario. After a “lengthy” decision-making process, he accepted a position as a Primary Care Paramedic with Hamilton Paramedic Services.
In the future, he expects to return to school, either to pursue a Master’s degree or to take another program related to his field.
“For now, I am going to continue to sharpen my skills through work experience, working towards becoming a better paramedic each and every day,” he says.
