Joany Deslandes, 36, is a mother of two children, aged 11 and 14, who lives in Longueuil. She is currently pursuing a DEC in Industrial Engineering at CÉGEP de Granby, after a career marked by a professional reorientation with ChallengeU.
Educational background and career change
Before registering with ChallengeUM, my academic path was fairly typical. Like many young people, I obtained a high school diploma. In my final year of high school, I decided to continue my studies at CEGEP in legal studies. After discussing it with my math teacher at the time, I chose to take the regular Grade 11 math course. My teacher assured me that this course was sufficient for legal studies and very similar to advanced math. Not being a big fan of mathematics, I opted for this option!
Unfortunately, I quickly realized that the legal field was not for me, which led me to work in another area: quality, continuous improvement, and parts inspection.
To continue in this field, which I enjoy immensely, decided to return to CEGEP in Industrial Engineering. However, to be admitted, I lacked the famous supplementary module of advanced mathematics (probability and statistics), which I had not taken in secondary 5.
The ideal solution for a determined mother
When I received my letter of acceptance to the Industrial Engineering DEC program in March, I was so happy! I was so excited that I forgot to carefully read the admission requirements…
At the time, I didn’t think I needed a prerequisite course to start my program at CEGEP. It wasn’t until August, a month before classes started, that I learned I absolutely had to pass a prerequisite in mathematics before September 18th, otherwise I would be forced to do a full year in the DEC bridging program. That was out of the question: I had to act, and quickly!
I panicked a little, I resented life as a whole… I raged, I cried, but in the end, I was the only one to blame. I pulled myself together.
Before enrolling with ChallengeU, I had considered doing my math module at an adult education center, but I really didn’t like how it was structured. One thing was certain: I wanted to do the online courses and not in person. I realized that doing it at an adult education center was just a matter of buying a manual, reading it, and doing it myself, without any explanation from the teachers. I missed having that human interaction for a better understanding. That’s why I chose ChallengeU!
I also knew that with ChallengeU, I could complete my course quickly. I went straight to their website to register and finish those infamous math courses before September 18th!
A modern and user-friendly platform
The registration was super simple. It was clear, easy, and quick. I answered a few questions, sent the requested documents, and the next day, I could already start working on my math course.
What impressed me most about ChallengeU is that the platform is really easy to understand, easy to access, easy to use, and the explanations given are clear.
When you open the module, you’ll find plenty of activities to complete, each represented by a star. It’s simple: you must complete one star before moving on to the next. Everything is well thought out: the explanations, the videos, everything! What’s amazing is that if you don’t understand a problem, you have access to hints, videos, or even similar problems to help you solve it.
It’s not just a website. If you have any problems, you can just write a message saying you don’t understand something. You send a picture of your approach, and a teacher will reply in less than 24 hours. Often, even in less than 12 hours! It’s a really user-friendly platform!
For some questions, teachers even answer you via video. One of my wonderful teachers, Émilie Lapointe, would send me personalized videos on YouTube, comparing my approach (based on the photo I had sent her) with the problem-solving method. I understood it immediately and could move on to the next exercise.
Basically, ChallengeU isn’t just a platform. There are real people behind the scenes who are incredibly helpful and, what’s more, they’re fun! The interaction is truly human.
Move forward at your own (very fast) pace.
Let’s be honest, to pass my module quickly, I kind of stopped having a life! I was getting up quite early in the morning, around 8 a.m., and going to bed around 9 p.m. In between, I was just doing… maths wasn’t stuck on my course for long because my teachers gave me quick answers when I had a question, which allowed me to move forward. To progress faster, I set myself some goals, such as a number of activities to complete per day, to finish my module before September 18th.
I worked super hard! Between doing my exercises on the platform, receiving answers from the teachers, and practicing…examIt only took 8 days. You have to tell yourself that if you put in enough effort, you can progress super fast with ChallengeU.
Some tips for combining determination and compromise
If I had to give advice to people in the same situation as me, it would be to take advantage of the platform. WithChallengeUIt’s so easy to ask questions of your teachers and make progress in your course. Don’t get stuck on a problem for days. Send your questions, and your teachers will be happy to answer them! They’re there to help you!
If you need a prerequisite to take a DEC or any other course, do it without delay.
To succeed on the platform, it’s also important to set goals. For example, tell yourself, “Today, I need to get at least 10 stars.” To achieve this, schedule time each week. Reserve specific time slots for studying and stick to them.
It’s a sacrifice you have to make by putting other things aside a bit. The focus needs to be on your studies. For example, even though I’m a mother, I was able to finish my math module in 8 days. I asked my kids for help with chores, washing dishes, and taking out the trash. Don’t feel too guilty if you don’t have time to do everything. I admit I also used food delivery services quite a bit while I was studying!
Equipping yourself for success
Once all my activities were finished, my teacher would send me a dozen more exercises to help me improve. Prepare f PrepareexamAfter that, I had no more clues or a teacher to help me. I was on my own, which made things a bit more difficult. The positive point is that it allowed me to identify the areas I still needed to improve to pass the exam.
I’m glad I did these exercises, because they were very similar to those in the exam!
When I registered with ChallengeU, I had concerns about the exam. I wondered if I would have to travel several hours to take the exam at the school service centre where I am registered at Lake Saint-Jean. Ultimately, there’s no need to worry, because you can take it near your home without any problem. My school board even took care of the registration, and I didn’t have to pay anything! When you arrive at the center, everything is already prepared: the answer sheets are printed, and pencils and calculators are available. There’s nothing to do… except pass the exam!
Continuing studies on a solid foundation
The funny thing is, I was in CEGEP when I received my exam results was so happy to learn that I had passed the math module that I rushed to share the good news with my whole class. Until then, I had been really uncertain. I didn’t know if I could complete my DEC program normally or if I should go through the DEC preparatory program. I also felt a bit like an imposter, attending classes when I hadn’t yet passed my math module.
Plus, I’m still doing math in my DEC program! So, it’s really an advantage to have been able to review some concepts with ChallengeU. The level is indeed a bit more difficult at CEGEP.
With the current situation, some classes are being held online. Unfortunately, my professors aren’t as well-equipped as those at ChallengeU. Communication isn’t always as smooth, but it’s okay, I’m managing well! I even got 88% on my first midterm!