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Upper Grand student is one of this year’s Women of Distinction

March 19, 2019

GUELPH, Ontario – A student in the Upper Grand District School Board is being recognized for her hard work and for inspiring other young women around her.

Melanie Dolmer is a student in the UGDSB’s Young Parent Education Program (YPEP). She has been named as one of Guelph’s Women of Distinction for 2019 and is the recipient of this year’s Turning Point award, which recognizes someone in the community who worked hard to change their life and put themselves on a path to success.

Melanie is a student in the UGDSB's Young Parent Education Program. She has been named one of Guelph's 2019 Women of Distinction.

Melanie has been attending YPEP for the past three years and is set to graduate this year. In addition to attending school through YPEP, Melanie works at a co-op placement every morning and cares for her two young daughters. She has plans to attend college in the fall to pursue a career in social work so that she can help others.

Melanie’s path wasn’t always so clear. There were times when she reluctantly attended school, or didn’t attend at all. She didn’t ever think that she would be able to attend college, she would just work at a minimum wage job and that would be it.

But then one day, Melanie made the decision to put herself on a different path. “She literally one day just decided that she was going to start coming back to school,” said YPEP teacher Brie Worgan.

“I was tired,” said Melanie. “I was tired of the endless loop of, ‘you’re just going to be nothing.’ I wanted to be something.”

She started attending school and quickly became a role model for other young women in the program. “She’s always offering advice and offering words of encouragement. We’re really proud of her here,” said Brie.  

In addition to school, Melanie decided to start attending the Guelph Y’s Teenage Parents Program (TAPPs), at the advice of a counsellor. TAPPs is a free program that offers a safe, non-judgemental place for pregnant and parenting teens to meet twice a week.  She was completely against it at first, but now, “I try not to miss it at all, ever,” said Melanie. She encourages other young women to attend the program as well.

“With everything Melanie has gone through in her personal life and getting into school and taking care of her two girls…we think it’s really inspiring for other young women in the community to see that even with all the struggles you can go through in life, you can find a way to put yourself on a path — and there are community programs that will support you and you can turn your life around,” said Helen Keen, who runs TAPPs and is a member of the Women of Distinction committee.  “You can make a good life for you and your kids,” she said.

Melanie is a student in the UGDSB's Young Parent Education Program. She has been named one of Guelph's 2019 Women of Distinction. Melanie is pictured with Helen Keen (L) and teacher Brie Worgan (R).

Helen, Melanie and Brie.

Her kids are two of Melanie’s main motivators, wanting to be a role model for them. Melanie said that she’s excited to have them attend her graduation, to see what she accomplished. “If I could have them walk across the stage with me, I would,” she said.

Guelph’s Women of Distinction will celebrate 20 remarkable women at an event on May 2, at the River Run Centre. In the weeks leading up to the event, Melanie will have the opportunity to meet the other recipients, volunteer together and see all of the different paths these women have taken to help make the community a better place and inspire others to succeed.

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