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When enrolled in SFU鈥檚 Master of Education (MEd) in Arts Education, it wasn鈥檛 just about advancing a career. It was about fulfilling a long-held personal dream to blend art, learning, and self-expression.  

鈥淗aving survived two life-altering surgeries (without them, I would have been paralyzed from the neck down) within a year in 2020 compelled me to live life differently,鈥� shares Wahkee. 鈥淚 have always wanted to go back to academia, and this experience turned into a promise to myself not just to live differently but live poetically and  aesthetically.鈥�

Before joining the program, Wahkee was already working as a public school art teacher. However, the experience of illness sharpened the urgency of academic aspirations. Wahkee reflects: 鈥淏oth thinking about academia and when I got sick, this goal became more immediate and something I needed to channel my energy and focus on, as I concentrated on working on my health, writing poetry, artmaking, and general wellbeing.鈥� 

Drawn to the unique blend of scholarship and creativity offered by SFU鈥檚 Arts Education program, Wahkee appreciated the option to transition into the MA thesis stream, a space where research, artistic practice, and personal exploration could intersect

Throughout the program, Wahkee immersed himself in a variety of artistic media, ceramics, mixed media, poetry, and calligraphy, often blending art forms in surprising ways. One memorable project involved using water and waterproof paper to explore calligraphy as both a dance and a form of memory, drawing on childhood experiences in Malaysia, where he learned Chinese characters from his father and grandfather. 

Central to the journey were the professors whose wisdom and mentorship extended far beyond the classroom. Wahkee credits Drs. Vicki Kelly, Celeste Snowber, Michael Ling, Ching-Chiu Lin, and Lynn Fels for shaping his experiences: 鈥淔rom Dr. Lin sharing her own academic story, to Dr. Kelly taking me to be cleansed by the cedar tree, to Dr. Snowber dancing and manifesting what it means to create in dangerous times, I am indebted to their teachings. They showed me that the little graces in life offer moments of wonder, something close to the sacred.鈥�

Navigating the demands of graduate study brought both emotional and intellectual transformation. 鈥淭here was lots of crying, reflection and writing, artmaking and self-care, which was an absolute must,鈥� shares Wahkee. 

These intense moments, however, were also catalysts for deeper learning. Engaging with works like Leslie Brown & Susan Strega鈥檚 reshaped Wahkee鈥檚 understanding of what qualifies as valid research, especially within the context of Canada鈥檚 commitment to reconciliation. 鈥淭he premise of approaching research from an inclusive and culturally respectful way is crucial for educators, as Canada is committed to the (TRC),鈥� Wahkee explains. 鈥淭he approach to a new way of thinking, from Indigenous relational approaches, a decolonizing approach, and moving away from the language of deficit in a positivist scientific paradigm, is relevant in an increasingly difficult, existential world.鈥�

The program's cohort model provided not only academic stimulation for Wahkee but also a powerful sense of community. "Cohorts are helpful as ideas are better when shared, learned, reshared, and relearned," Wahkee notes. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 our beliefs, values, or traditions, a life unexamined and unquestioned is wasteful. I鈥檓 grateful to the Class of 2024, 2025, and 2026. You all have been part of this ongoing, beautiful cycle of learning.鈥� 

Looking ahead, Wahkee is eager to continue developing as an artist, teacher, practitioner, and researcher. Although timing and circumstances prevented a shift into the Master of Education (MA) thesis stream, Wahkee is determined to carve a pathway into doctoral studies, inspired by fellow graduates who advanced through publishing and research. 鈥淪FU is a place of possibilities and dreams,鈥� Wahkee says. 鈥淭he program has equipped me with the tools and the mindset to keep pursuing higher education, even if the road isn鈥檛 straightforward.鈥� 

For future students, Wahkee offers heartfelt encouragement: 鈥淪ign up, and you鈥檒l find your cohort. You鈥檒l learn and discover. Learning is a lifelong aspiration. Try, learn, know, and do. Practice is research, and we become better because we do: practice, practice, practice." And with a smile, he adds: 鈥淎pply for scholarships and bursaries. I missed the boat!鈥� 

As Wahkee prepares to cross the convocation stage, he carries forward a journey shaped by resilience, creativity, and deep reflection鈥攁 testament to the power and promise he has fulfilled to himself to live differently, poetically, and purposefully.