Five times over the past year I've had the opportunity to teach an intensive four-week communications course at a local private college. During that time I have met a number of Neighbourhood Heroes; most of them people in their 30s, 40s and 50s who, for a variety of reasons, have decided to upgrade their education.

Many of these people have impressed me, but none more than Roberta Mitchell.

On March 27 of this year, Roberta had her sixth child, and first boy. It was a complicated birth that forced her to spend the next week at NRGH. Then on April 11, less than a week after she got out of the hospital, she turned up for her first class with me.

Of course I was worried about her on my first day when her friends and fellow classmates told me that she would miss the entire week, a quarter of the course, but they assured me that I had no reason to worry, that Roberta was an exceptional student.

They were right.

On Monday, April 11 Roberta arrived in class, slightly bent over in pain, but she was there. Then when I saw that she had done most of her homework assignments and required reading while she was in the hospital and recovering at home, I knew I had nothing to worry about.

That has to be impressive and although I don't have her final marks as yet, I can tell you that she is definitely an A student.

School wasn't always such a success story for Roberta. A "bit of a rebel" (and I can tell you she still is!) she dropped out well before she completed high school but then, after having several children, she returned in her twenties and needs just one more elective to get her Dogwood - She plans on doing that this summer after she graduates from her legal secretary program.

As you might guess it's a bit of a challenge for Roberta to keep up with her studies when she has six children between the ages of three weeks and nine years plus her father, her uncle and her partner at home.

It's possible, she says, thanks to her partner who helps with all aspects of running the household and also keeps the kids busy so she can find the quiet time she needs to do her work.

Roberta also thanks her elders for the things they have taught her.

"I'm one of the few that listened to them," she told me and it has definitely paid off for her.

"Grandma, my aunts and uncles made a point of teaching me to care about the way I presented myself so I don't do too much socially now. I'm always at home taking care of my kids, and when I do go out, I go dancing, and I am always the designated driver. I love to dance"

She tells me her favorite dance music is Rap ... so there, proof that she ain't perfect!

When I asked who her Neighbourhood Heroes would be, she quickly named her father.

"He worked hard to raise us," she enthused, "and even when he was sick, he kept on working."

It seems pretty obvious where Roberta gets her drive and determination.

Ever since she was a small child, Roberta has dreamed of being a lawyer, but she says she didn't even consider going to college because of a fear of failure; however, now that she has almost completed her legal secretary program, she has her mind set on reaching the dream of becoming a lawyer.

Given five or more years working as a legal secretary, she plans on writing her LSATs and applying to laws school at the University of Victoria. I suspect she'll get straight A's there too.