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A student who had to overcome the devastating loss of her father during the second year of her studies at Fanshawe College — and considered dropping out — is being honoured as the school this week celebrates its 200,000th graduate.

Haley Aldred, who is graduating from the child and youth care program, will represent the college’s major milestone.

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“Haley’s story, though her own, represents similar stories faced by so many of our students who have to manage and deal with all the curve balls life throws at them while they are trying to reach their goals and achieve their dreams,” Julie Cross, the program’s co-ordinator, said in a statement.

Aldred said she accessed the school’s counselling services and received support from her teachers and fellow classmates to get through the grief of losing her father.

“Fanshawe allowed me to work through my father’s death as I continued through school,” she said. “By no means was it easy for me, but there is no way I could have continued on without the support of my professors, peers and Fanshawe.”