Jill Heinerth is an explorer, and her message to students is very clear, don't be afraid to do the impossible.
On Friday, March 31, Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS) Grade 9 students learned about the interesting career path Heinerth chose, as an explorer-in-residence with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS).
As a cave diver and explorer, Heinerth faces life-threatening conditions daily, and never lets her fears deter her from discovering the unimaginable. Through her career, Heinerth has pushed to the edge of exploration, diving deeper and farther than any other woman in history.
In 2013, the Mississauga, ON native was awarded the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration by the RCGS, in recognition of her contributions to the understanding of the worlds underwater cave systems.
Using her passion and career as an example, she spoke to BCHS students about going beyond what's expected, regardless of the odds.
“I am hoping to inspire them to take chances, and use exploration and expand the possibilities of their life,” said Heinerth.
BCHS science teacher Jennifer Bermillion added she wants her students to learn that braving your fears could have exceptional outcomes.
“Hopefully they will learn to embrace their fear and to go for what they want to go for one step at a time,” she said. “I hope they learn that anything is possible, and there are places and people out there doing things that not even I can imagine are possible.”
Osum Oil Sands Corporation sponsored the presentation through their commitment to inspiring youth to think outside the box when contemplating their future.
Justin Robinson, communications manager for Osum, said their goal is to unlock the potential of students, while planting a seed they hope will grow into a future career in science and innovation.
“It's about youth, and tapping into that reservoir of potential inside of them, and inspiring them to think about the possibilities of what they could be and how they could use their life to contribute. It's to inspire them to get interested in science and careers that they could follow,” he said.
During her presentation, Heinerth touched on the various activities students could be involved in, hybrid careers, exploration, embracing challenges, and facing their fears. All are topics “they have to face on a day-to-day basis as they try and figure out what they want to do for the rest of their lives.”
Erin Anderson, Grade 9 BCHS student, said she was inspired by Heinerth to face her fears when planning her future careers.
“You can take a lot of women that don't push themselves to do amazing things, but she is such an amazing person, and a lot of people can learn from that,” Anderson said, adding hearing of Heinerth's bravery as she faces life-threatening circumstances is inspirational.
“For example, diving in caves, that's crazy, but it can be quite beautiful and you can discover so many new things. Just learning that she is putting herself in these situations and is coming out of it with such amazing things for people to learn… I am someone who is very scared, but fear is just something we can learn from.”
Fellow Grade 9 student Meagan Desmarais, said she learned that sometimes facing your fears can bring out the best result.
“Even though some things are dangerous, it's easier to try and learn by doing it yourself, rather than just assuming you might not be good enough to do it,” Desmarais added.
Being a role model for young women such as Desmarais and Anderson is important to Heinerth, who growing up didn't feel as though she had one of her own.
“As a kid, I didn't have a female role model in a way that did the kind of things that I wanted to do. My goal is to be that role model that I wish I knew as a kid,” said Heinerth.
She continued, “I think what I want to leave the students with, is that a kid with a humble background can chase their dreams and do something that others might perceive as impossible. They can create a career that they are really excited about every day.”
