Love of learning keeps four-time grad studying into retirement
Lifelong Learning Award winner Anne Kustra’s passion for online learning is like no other, and allowed her to pursue higher education while working full time
The silence in the operating room is punctuated by the beeps, bells, alarms, and whistles of the machines keeping the patient alive during open-heart surgery.
Occasionally, the surgeon will give some instructions to the rest of the team, which includes two surgical assistants, an anesthesiologist, a perfusionist to operate the heart-and-lung machine, and three nurses filling different support roles on the team.
A surgery like this might take four hours or more, and a nurse’s shift might last 12 hours. This could continue for days or even weeks on end, with nurses on call to support surgeons and patients when needed.
This is what professional life for Anne Kustra (Bachelor of Nursing ’10, Bachelor of General Studies ’16, Master of Health Studies ’20, Master of Arts – Interdisciplinary Studies ’24) looked like for nearly three decades as an operating-room nurse at Hamilton General Hospital.
She described the opportunity to work with the open-heart team as a “tremendous learning opportunity,” and she spent many years learning on the job and through professional development. But she ultimately realized that to advance her career, she would need to do more formal education and earn a bachelor’s degree. This presented challenges, considering her demanding professional role.
“Going to a physical classroom was tough because of shift work and being on call. You could work 12 days in a row on call,” she said. “I worked in a trauma hospital, so there’s always something going on. By the time I got home, I was too tired to do anything.”
The flexibility to do school on her own schedule and on her own time is what initially brought Kustra to AU, but after finishing four degrees the 2024 Athabasca University Lifelong Learner Award winner has demonstrated ongoing efforts to expand her knowledge and skills through continuous learning.
Lifelong learning began at home
Kustra comes honestly by her passion and dedication for learning, having understood from an early age the value of an education in creating opportunities that transform lives.
Her parents had immigrated to Canada after the Second World War, coming from Austria and the former Yugoslavia. Both parents worked hard to learn English, and she fondly recalls being inspired by their efforts and working hard in her own right.
“My father would read the newspaper, and I’d sit beside him and try to see what he was looking at,” she said. “He was just trying to teach himself the words, and I was just trying to copy him.”
While classroom learning never came naturally to Kustra—she considered herself an average student—she did enjoy it. In particular, she enjoyed learning about new technologies, which at the time meant she enjoyed typing class the most.
Her parents highly valued education, and by the time she was in high school, she was regularly being asked about what she wanted to do with her life. After being inspired by her sister-in-law who graduated from nursing school, Kustra set her sights on the same goal.
AU degree supports career opportunities
Kustra was accepted into the Hamilton Civic Hospital and Mohawk College nursing program and completed a diploma in 1977. Within five years of learning the ropes on a ward, she was promoted to a role in an operating room, where she thrived for many years.
In the early 2000s, she realized she would need a bachelor’s degree to help open doors to career advancement. In particular, she was interested in a clinical educator role to teach others all she had learned over the years about sterilization techniques.
Her busy schedule meant she could not pursue a traditional education at a brick-and-mortar school, but after a colleague recommended AU to her in 2005, she bought a computer, learned how to use it, and started in the Bachelor of Nursing program.
“Athabasca University was one of the best paths I ever took, because I never stopped there,” Kustra said. “I just continued on.”
With a bachelor’s degree completed, she successfully applied for a clinical educator role in the medical device reprocessing department. She worked hard learning her new role, and found success, but still thought she could benefit from further education to support her in her new role as an educator. So, she returned to AU and enrolled in the Bachelor of General Studies program.
“There were some courses that had a lot to do with multi-disciplinary approaches and different types of learning,” she said. “It really helped as far as connecting with staff. You could, in so many words, be in their shoes and be more empathetic.”
A passion for lifelong learning like no other
Success in two bachelor’s degrees gave Kustra the confidence to pursue a master’s degree. While she was not specifically aiming to advance her career beyond her clinical educator role, she did want to be prepared if the opportunity ever arose for leadership or academic roles.
“That is why I went into the Master of Health Studies program, because it just opened more doors,” she said. “I wanted the option that if something did come up, I would be prepared.”
Kustra had retired as a clinical educator in 2015 before even starting a graduate degree. While keeping doors open was part of the motivation, continuing her education was more about the joy of learning something new. And having recently finished work on her second master’s degree, it’s clear she has a deep passion for learning.
What’s more, she continues to stay active in the nursing profession within her former hospital network as a volunteer and instructor for CPR and basic life support.
“At this point in my life it’s not for career advancement, it’s just for my own personal satisfaction,” she said. “And I want to continue on.”
Lifelong learner encourages others to pursue an education
The passion for learning doesn’t appear to be showing any signs of letting up. Kustra finished work on her second master’s degree from AU this year and is considering her options for additional learning.
“I get bored easily, so I need something to get my brain going. It’s just something I want to do,” she said. “Some people like to go travel, some people like hobbies such as scrapbooking. I love learning, and I love learning online.”
For others looking to pursue further education, while it can be intimidating to go to school—especially for those returning to school later in life—she said it’s worth taking the plunge as a mature student.
And if you need a little inspiration, Kustra said, you don’t need to look much further than the 2023 Lifelong Learner award recipient Louise Daley, who crossed AU’s convocation stage at 93 years old.
“You’re never too old to learn,” she said. “Look at Louise! She is my idol.”
Athabasca University’s 2024 Alumni Award winners
Kustra thanked her sister Alice for nominating her for the Lifelong Learning Award, husband John for his continual support in achieving her academic goals, and AU “for choosing me for this illustrious award.”
“I am truly humbled by this honour as the recipient of the 2024 Lifelong Learner Award,” she said.
Get to know other inspiring AU alumni from this year’s award winners.
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