“I’m just an average student.”
Already a two-time Western graduate, Alexandra Papaiconomou is now pursuing a law degree, thanks to high academic abilities and her guide dog Buckles.
This may be Alexandra Papaiconomou’s perception of herself, but ask others and you’ll get a totally different answer.
“In my 35 years as a reference librarian, helping literally tens of thousands of students, I cannot recall a student with a greater desire to do well and a better ability to listen to information read to her and remember it,” says Walter Zimmerman, Senior Librarian, Research & Instructional Services, at the D. B. Weldon Library.
Zimmerman befriended Papaiconomou as a first-year student, assisting her with the library’s online catalogue and databases.
“Alexandra is an exceptional woman with much to offer the legal world. She has had an interest in becoming a lawyer since her childhood,” he adds, noting the faculty is fortunate to have attracted her.
“I have written letters of reference for several other students during my career, but I can say in all honesty that Alexandra is the finest person, student, and friend that one can hope to meet.”
The Toronto-native’s pursuit of a law degree will be her fourth degree – and third from Western. After graduating from Fanshawe College with a diploma in Developmental Science, she came to Western in 2001 and earned a double BA (History and Sociology) and master’s in History – in just four years.
These accomplishments would be impressive on their own, however Papaiconomou is also blind, the result of a congenital condition that caused a gradual deterioration of her eyesight over 11 years.
She says she’s proud the university didn’t let the condition get in the way of her potential success.
“Western doesn’t provide a cookie-cutter level of accessibility. They don’t tell you what you need, they ask you,” she says. “And the Services for Students with Disabilities here at Western is really great with that. It’s customized to what you need. Even from one blind person to another, it’s very different the level of accessibility needed.”
For exams, Papaiconomou prefers some to be tape recorded for multiple-choice questions, and some she prefers in Braille.
After graduating in 2005 with her second Western degree, Papaiconomou took some time off. With fast-tracking her undergraduate degree, she regretted missing Christmases with family.
The decision was a good one – during this period at home she was able to be with her parents, both of whom died following illnesses.
“After they passed I felt ‘life is short’ and it had always been a dream of mine to go to law school. It’s always something I wanted to do and have had as a goal. I tend to try and meet the goals I set for myself.”
Four years later – mission accomplished. Papaiconomou is again in London and rediscovering familiar territory. She’s even in Bayfield Hall residence, where she lived as an undergraduate.
However, she has had to discover the Law Building. Thanks to an in-depth tour from administrative staff, she’s ready to go. She has scanned all of her textbooks, in the range of 1,500 pages, to access them through a special computer program. And she had met all of her professors prior to classes beginning.
“The professors here have been fantastic in sitting down with me and discussing my needs in class; the presentation of the material,” says Papaiconomou. “They not only rolled out the welcome mat for me, they are really working with me to support me in this process. But obviously I need to perform academically to achieve my goal.”
And it is the challenge of earning a Law degree that has her nerves all-aflutter.
“Once we discussed the first case in class it really hit me that ‘wow I’m here.'” She’s looking forward to working with one of the law clinics in an advocacy role.
“I’m very excited about it though. I have that first-year excitement again. I love academia in general and I like being challenged in that way. I’m not getting special treatment and also I’m not being disadvantaged because of something.
“The big thing, however, is I hate the word tolerance. I don’t want to be tolerated by anybody and I certainly don’t feel like I’m tolerated at Western. I feel like I’m a part of this university and that my contributions are just as valuable as anyone else’s.”
This acceptance meant Western was Papaiconomou’s one and only choice.
“The thing I like about Western is that they’re willing to work with concerns that I bring to the table. Even something as simple as plowing the snow because there is a specific path I take,” she says. “It’s all the support on campus that made Western the only choice for me.”
But let’s not forget Buckles. Papaiconomou’s 10-year-old poodle has been her eyes on campus ever since beginning at Western. She, too, has had an extra wag in her tail since returning to campus.
“She loves being back at Western,” says Papaiconomou. “She’s trying to take me to the UCC a lot, so I don’t know if she thinks I need coffee or something. But there is that extra confidence in her stride. She knows where everything is. She has this really strong pull. She’s happy to be back as well.”
So while this is just the first step in three years of hard work, Papaiconomou looks forward with anticipation.
“This is my life. I’m in Law school and being a professional program I know I have to work harder. This really gets my mental juices going. I love being here.”