Like mother, like daughter.

Following in the footsteps of her mom, MetchosinB次元官网网址檚 Shaelyn Littlejohn has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship by the Canadian Airborne Forces Association and the Airborne Regiment Association of Canada.

Littlejohn, who received the award in a ceremony on Saturday at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 292 in Victoria, is a recent graduate of Pacific Christian School and is enrolled in the chemistry program at the University of Victoria this fall.

There, sheB次元官网网址檒l begin to pursue her dream of becoming a pediatric surgeon, an ambition that grew out of personal experience.

Littlejohn was born prematurely and with two congenital heart defects, leading to a childhood spent in and out of the hospital for various surgeries and appointments.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like IB次元官网网址檒l be able to relate not only with what the child is going through, but I can relate to what the parents are going through,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎s my parentB次元官网网址檚 first child, it was really scary B次元官网网址� with all of these issues and they didnB次元官网网址檛 know what was happening.B次元官网网址�

She added, B次元官网网址淚 like working with children; theyB次元官网网址檙e so resilient and even though they are in the hospital and they are sick, they find joy in the little things.B次元官网网址�

And Littlejohn knows all about resiliency, having had to battle throughout her childhood.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 always just pushed through it B次元官网网址� she never used it as an excuse,B次元官网网址� said her mother, Paula.

The scholarship is given to prospective students in the Armed Forces or to one of their descendants. ShaelynB次元官网网址檚 grandfather, William Willbond, was a sergeant in the airborne regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 even more special because he really encouraged all of us to go to school,B次元官网网址� Paula said of her late father. B次元官网网址淪chool was really important to him.B次元官网网址�

Paula, a nurse, received a sum of $300 when she earned the very same scholarship in 1989. B次元官网网址淪he was excited B次元官网网址� that it was [now] $2,000,B次元官网网址� she said with a laugh about her daughterB次元官网网址檚 reaction.

Shaelyn Littlejohn was given the honour for her wide range of achievements in high school, which included being on the honour roll, participating in extra-curricular sports and music, and for her personal merit and potential. She was unanimously selected for the honour by the voting committee.

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com