December 2, 2009 - 1:35am
Any parent knows how busy life can be with children. But for Jim and Nancy Jütte ‘busy’ is an understatement.
The Jütte’s are proud parents of seven children ages eight to 16. Balancing the demands of family life is a full-time job, not to mention other daily commitments. Nancy is Vice-President of Patient Services at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Comox while Jim is an aspiring teacher enrolled in Vancouver Island University’s education program.
“Our key to juggling all the responsibilities is balance,” said Jütte. “When one person struggles, someone else helps to pick up the slack. Whether it is an eight-year-old folding laundry, or me cleaning out the leaves from the eaves-troughs, we keep the household functioning. However this is only part of the picture. My classmates, professors and Shq'apthut (First Nations Student Services) provide emotional support in the program. They make an enormous difference.”
VIU Education professor Bernie Krynowsky said Jütte “is an outstanding contributor to the education program. “Parenting seven children and managing our very demanding program with a high standard of performance is quite remarkable. In the 18 years I’ve been at VIU, we’ve never had a student with this many children.”
Having spent eight years in military service and another seven in the healthcare sector, Jütte now describes himself as a life-long learner. Jütte already has a science degree in molecular biology and genetics from the University of Guelph, a master’s in health services management and information systems management from McMaster University, a bachelor’s degree in German and Women’s Studies from McMaster University and a master’s in German from the University of Waterloo.
Life circumstances taught him the importance and value of flexibility. Jütte had just started a PhD program at the University of Waterloo when his wife’s new job prompted a family move to Comox.
“I switched gears quickly but we’re so happy to live on Vancouver Island. The opportunity to complete my teaching degree at VIU is a huge bonus,” Jütte said. “My 33 classmates and professors are the most inspiring group of people I’ve ever worked with. They truly care about making a difference in their communities.”
Connection to community is a philosophy Jütte lives by. It was sparked by a personal family tragedy in 2001 when an infant son passed away. “It changed my perspective on life,” he said. “Nancy and I spent many nights in a Ronald McDonald House while our twins were in hospital after being born 12 weeks premature.
“We’re convinced one of the reasons our twin daughter survived is because of the support we received. Ronald McDonald House provided a place for us to stay so we could be with her almost 24 hours a day.”
With his wife and children travelling beside him in an RV, Jütte cycled from St. John’s,Newfoundland to Victoria, encouraging people to support the 12 Ronald McDonald Houses that exist in Canada. “It was an incredible experience,” said Jütte. “The communities really cared.”
The journey left a permanent mark on Jütte’s heart to continue bettering his community. “I like to tell peoplethat you can’t change the world all at once, but you can affect people in your life. It’s up to each one of us to spread positive energy and improve our communities.
“As a future teacher, that’s what I intend to do.”
Tags: In the Community
