08/31/2026
“My coworkers, instructors, mentors, friends, and family all played a role. Having people who encouraged me, challenged me, and reminded me why I started made all the difference.”
At 25, Sunshine Capilo-Joseph is already making a lasting impact in her community, and she is just getting started.
A proud Ktunaxa woman, Sunshine has spent the past six and a half years at Aqamnik School as an Education Assistant. What began as a job quickly became something much deeper.
“My connection to my community means everything to me,” she says. “Aqamnik has become so much more than a workplace. The staff are like family, and the relationships I have built with students and families mean so much to me.”
For Sunshine, becoming a teacher has always felt like a natural path.
“When I was younger, I was constantly playing school, with my dolls and stuffed animals as my students,” she said. “As I got older and worked in education, that feeling only grew stronger. Being an Education Assistant confirmed that this is exactly where I am meant to be.”
After several years supporting students in the classroom, Sunshine chose to build on that hands-on experience by enrolling in the Education Assistant program. The program allowed her to formally develop the skills she had been using every day, while preparing for her long-term goal of becoming a teacher.
Now, Sunshine is preparing for the next step in her journey. She has been accepted into the Indigenous Teacher Education Program at University of British Columbia.
Sunshine’s story is one of resilience, growth, and courage, and she hopes it encourages others who are unsure about taking the next step.
“I was not ready either, and I still went for it,” she says. “If you keep waiting until you are completely ready, it may never happen. Sometimes you just have to take the leap and trust yourself.”
