Jenna Engelbrecht is a psychology student, but she’s been learning much more than her chosen subject.
At 22, Engelbrecht has already experienced her share of adventures, the most recent her move to Salmon Arm from England to do her practicum on aboriginal education as part of her psychology degree at Bournemouth University near London.
Her way here was paved by another young woman who was studying at Bournemouth and did a placement in Salmon Arm. Also, Engelbrecht’s parents are keen to move to Canada so Jenna wanted to experience the country for herself.
She’s been at several schools in the district.
On a recent day at South Broadview, several girls sit around a table at lunchtime, clipping pictures from magazines to create vision boards, or collages of things they enjoy, while Englebrecht assists.
Aboriginal support worker Launa Payne said Englebrecht’s presence means more programs and activities can be offered to students – so it’s a win-win.
“I’ve learned a lot about the aboriginal culture which has been great, I’ve gone on quite a few field trips,” Englebrecht says, including a visit to Quaaout Lodge, a day on the medicinal properties of plants, a visit to a kekuli, observing the students make medicine pouches, hearing about the purposes of fire and who would keep it alive, witnessing drumming games, and listening to stories – always with a message.
The experience has changed the way she sees her surroundings.
“In the past I just looked at nature, ‘oh it’s pretty.’ Now I think about what it meant to aboriginal people, how you use trees – wood and the bark, how you’re not wasteful of anything, how you take only what you need.
“I do think I have a deeper appreciation for nature,” she says referring to her walk home after school. “It doesn’t have to take me long but it always does; I’m always stopping to admire how beautiful this place is.”
Along with experiencing the culture of local First Nations, being in Salmon Arm has been an eye-opener for a young woman who grew up in South Africa and, more recently, England.
“It doesn’t snow at all in South Africa, or in England. In England it snowed a millimetre and everything came to a standstill; people didn’t know what to do with themselves,” she smiles.
“I’ve never really enjoyed a proper winter and a white Christmas, they’re only things you see in movies… I love here how people embrace the outdoors. It’s a really great way to live.”
Englebrecht’s history has been filled with experiencing different cultures, but there is another reason she is interested in what she terms educational psychology. She explains she underwent a traumatic event when she was 16, and a psychologist really helped her.
Near the end of the interview with the Observer, Englebrecht humbly mentions a tidbit about herself.
She has been a dancer for 18 years, mostly ballet, and was a junior associate with the Royal Ballet, performing in Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Opera House. She’s also performed with the Australian Ballet.
“When they came over, they were performing Swan Lake and they needed dancers.”
She plans to share her skill with some of the students.
“It links back to psychology – exercise, mental health, fitness, that kind of thing. It also teaches discipline.”
Prior to her 32-week practicum in Salmon Arm, Englebrecht spent 10 weeks in Sri Lanka in the mental health sector, where she worked in hospitals, special care homes and sometimes in temples. Part of her time was spent teaching English to monks, she says.
Like the meditation there, she points out that classes in this school district practise mindfulness, taking time to watch glitter particles fall when a bottle is shaken, or sitting silently after a chime is rung until the sound fades away.
Although she’s far from home, Englebrecht is grateful she lives with her host family – and in Salmon Arm.
“I couldn’t have ended up in a better place. I haven’t felt so welcomed in a community as I have here.”