Twenty-four-year-old Myrene Tesico knows what it takes to make an in enticing video blog. Prior to moving to Dawson Creek last September to attend the Social Services Worker diploma program at Northern Lights College (NLC), Myrene worked in marketing back home in the Philippines where she developed a savviness for vlogging.

“I started vlogging because I’m adventurous person,” says Myrene. “I love filming my adventures. When I came to Dawson Creek, I had a lot of friends back home asking me how I got here. I realized I could help other students by vlogging about my experiences,” she concludes.

“Myrene has had a huge influence on our recruitment efforts in the Philippines, through her vlog posts and her willingness to interact on social media with potential students,” says Scott Clerk, Director of International at NLC. “She’s also an active student leader on campus – last winter, she helped organize a caroling activity that had a dozen international students singing carols around town to raise funds for our student refugee program,” says Scott.

Myrene’s vlogs cover topics requested by her followers on YouTube including what life is like in Dawson Creek, budgeting expenses while studying aboard, and Filipino food in Canada. While 80 percent of her more than 2,500 subscribers are from the Philippines, she also has subscribers from India, Dubai, and other parts of the world.

“What drew me to NLC was the campus, it’s not too big, but it’s not too small. It’s just the right size of students,” says Myrene. “The Philippines has such a large population that I wanted to try a smaller city. Being here, I get to focus on my studies,” concludes Myrene.

Besides being a full-time student, Myrene works part-time at the front desk of a local hotel. After her diploma she hopes to continue with her studies and earn a degree in Social Work.

“The best thing for me being an international student in British Columbia has been the growth I’ve experienced. I wasn’t expecting the opportunities and experiences I’ve been given while being at NLC, and for that I am forever grateful,” says Myrene.