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Wayward student turns tables on academic future
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October 5, 2004
“Most likely to succeed” was not the phrase that came to anyone's mind when contemplating Victor Jensen's first-year performance at SFU in 1995 -- “most likely to get tossed out” was more like it.
“Yeah, I spent more time in the pub than in class,” admits the Burnaby Central high school grad, citing family issues and a lack of interest in school as contributing factors. And tossed out he was, after receiving “not complete” in all of his courses and a withdrawal order from the university.
From there, things only got worse. A year later, in 1997, he was in a deteriorating relationship and facing “a life of waiting tables and partying” when his autistic brother Gerald disappeared (and is still missing).
Then a small miracle happened: his son Austin was born. “Having a son and working for years in a restaurant convinced me to go back to school,” says Jensen. “It gave me the discipline, determination and drive I needed.”
After two qualifying semesters at Capilano College where he earned straight A's and A+'s, Jensen returned in 2001 to SFU, now a single father. He graduates this fall with a bachelor of science degree in cellular and molecular biology, a respectable 3.94 cumulative grade point average and an entrance scholarship to study medical genetics at UBC.
With only two weeks off this summer to marry SFU history grad Jennifer Bradley, Jensen is back on track - in what one instructor calls “one of the most successful turnarounds ever” - to achieve his lifelong goal of becoming a biologist and university professor.
And when six-year-old Austin reaches university, he laughs, “I'll be keeping a very close eye on him.”
-30-
(digital photo available)
“Yeah, I spent more time in the pub than in class,” admits the Burnaby Central high school grad, citing family issues and a lack of interest in school as contributing factors. And tossed out he was, after receiving “not complete” in all of his courses and a withdrawal order from the university.
From there, things only got worse. A year later, in 1997, he was in a deteriorating relationship and facing “a life of waiting tables and partying” when his autistic brother Gerald disappeared (and is still missing).
Then a small miracle happened: his son Austin was born. “Having a son and working for years in a restaurant convinced me to go back to school,” says Jensen. “It gave me the discipline, determination and drive I needed.”
After two qualifying semesters at Capilano College where he earned straight A's and A+'s, Jensen returned in 2001 to SFU, now a single father. He graduates this fall with a bachelor of science degree in cellular and molecular biology, a respectable 3.94 cumulative grade point average and an entrance scholarship to study medical genetics at UBC.
With only two weeks off this summer to marry SFU history grad Jennifer Bradley, Jensen is back on track - in what one instructor calls “one of the most successful turnarounds ever” - to achieve his lifelong goal of becoming a biologist and university professor.
And when six-year-old Austin reaches university, he laughs, “I'll be keeping a very close eye on him.”
-30-
(digital photo available)