CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Nursing alumna authors second book on thoughtful time management

Conestoga graduate and author Beatrice Ejime Ogiemwonyi encourages people to be more purposeful when it comes to their time: Invest wisely, don't simply spend time.

Intentional use of time to achieve life goals is the focus of her second book "Better Now or Later," which weaves in her personal journey of making the monumental decision to come to Canada from her home in Nigeria and enrol at Conestoga.

Ejime Ogiemwonyi is a 2022 graduate of the Enhanced Practice for Internationally Educated Nurses program for experienced internationally educated nurses with a four-year bachelor's degree in nursing to acquire essential nursing knowledge and skills to practice in the Canadian health-care system.

Her first book "The Excellent Nurse" encourages nurses to reflect their best in the academic and clinical nursing practice. It also offers patients insight as to their rights and what to expect from their nurses.

When it comes to big life decisions, people can become stalled while debating if it is the right time or the right choice. Or later they can regret missing an opportunity they let slip by.

Ejime Ogiemwonyi struggled with the prospect of moving to a new country, especially with a young family. But she decided tackling the opportunity was worth the uncertainty and effort that came with it - prompting her advice to "choose courage over delay."

Don't wait for the perfect time because that doesn't exist, she said. Instead, take action.

Ejime Ogiemwonyi wants her book to encourage people who are struggling to make the most of time - a common issue for many, from those who routinely procrastinate to high achievers. The underlying cause is the false idea that there is always more time.

"People only tend to realize this when it's too late," she said. "You have to choose time. Time will not choose you."

Self-evaluation and forgiveness are important to get on the right track, followed by the next vital step of getting started because progress is not accidental. "Start from where you are." That start can be small, but what's crucial is being intentional and recognizing that time is a valuable asset.

"Time is something we should invest in and not just spend," Ejime Ogiemwonyi said. "The future you're looking for is actually starting now."

In the book's acknowledgements, Ejime Ogiemwonyi thanked Conestoga President John Tibbits for leading an institution that shaped her growth profoundly.

"While I may not have met you personally, your commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment has made a positive impact on my academic pursuits."

Conestoga's School of Health & Life Sciences offers a range of credentials from pre-health programs through to certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates and degrees. Students benefit from the most up-to-date training provided by expert faculty and staff in state-of-the-art facilities. Work-integrated learning is at the core of many programs, and the college has many partnerships in industry as well as the local community and beyond.