I asked, "What was the main reason that made you decide to attend the School of Natural Resources?", hoping to find out if there were any specific influences from the media, from their previous school, from their peers, etc. Instead the responses I got were very practical. Ten of the women chose Sir Sanford Fleming College because it "had the courses I wanted to study" or because it "was the best place to study in my field." Fourteen more stated that the deciding factor was their "interest in the environment" or that they "wanted a field where I could work in the outdoors."

In terms of their plans for after graduation, not surprisingly, a healthy majority plan to work in their field, either self-employed or for someone else. Some stated that they would like to continue their education. Four students said as part of their response that they would like to get married and have a family, but none stated this as their only goal.

In the next section of the survey, I asked the respondents if they saw any difference between themselves and the male members of their classes in academic performance and in employment goals. For academic performance, the response was "no difference" (14), but a strong minority (nine) felt that women students did better, mostly because "they did not take knowing everything for granted" and in some cases were more motivated. The majority also felt there was no difference in employment goals, but here too, there was an undercurrent of feeling that women had to try harder, or were more motivated (three respondents).

I wanted to find out if these women had been supported in their plans to study in a non-traditional field by family, friends, teachers, and others, because I believe that support or lack of it can have a strong influence on the choices we make in our professional development and education. Those people closest to us can have a strong influence either by setting up additional barriers or by helping us to deal with and overcome the barriers that exist. Following is a selection of the comments:

My father was the type who thought I would decide to get married and quit school halfway through. He did not have this attitude with my brothers.

I am going to go after what I want no matter who likes it or not. The support I have received has made it easier to cope with events.

Our high school does not push anything non-traditional. They like to keep girls as secretaries [and] in the home ec. shop.

In a further question, the women spoke about the support they are receiving or are not receiving from their family, friends, and teachers now that they are enrolled in a program at the school.

One faculty member told the girls in my class we should be looking for different jobs in a different field.

I worked approximately 30 hours a week and it left me pressed for time homework-wise. Most staff did not care because it was waitressing. But when a few guys in class got weekend jobs pruning and did not get things finished it was "all right."