This is Jenelle's story.
Jenelle was a certified Geriatric Nurse in Trinidad and Tobago but was unsure how to transfer her skills into the Canadian Job Market. Her YMCA Employment Coach was able to give her guidance and had a tremendous impact on her success.
Familiarity breeds comfort, but outside of our comfort zone is where true personal growth can flourish.
For Jenelle, aspirations of a better life prompted her not only to step outside her comfort zone, but also to make the difficult decision to leave her home in Trinidad and Tobago. Uprooting your life is never simple, but Jenelle knew the risk would be worth the reward. In the middle of a frigid December in 2009, Jenelle and her family relocate to Canada for a new beginning.
Adjusting to change in a new country was no easy endeavour. The cold climate alone was enough to cause a case of culture shock. Not knowing where to start or how to acclimatize to Canada, Jenelle turned to her husband for advice. His advice? Visit the YMCA of Niagara Employment and Immigrant Services office, a place where help was waiting.
Jenelle’s first encounter with the YMCA was an eye-opener as she discovered all of the resources and support available to her and her family.
Family has always come first for Jenelle and it was paramount that she helped her children integrate into life in Canada. The Settlement Worker in Schools (SWIS) program available through YMCA Immigrant Services proved instrumental in helping Jenelle’s children adjust to school and their new community. Once her family was established, it was time to focus on her own goals.
Jenelle was a certified Geriatric Nurse in Trinidad and Tobago, but she was unsure how to transfer her skills and expertise into the Canadian job market. Jenelle was paired with a YMCA Employment Coach, who had a tremendous impact on her success.
With guidance from her Employment Coach, Jenelle found her first job in Canada and took steps to pursuing a career in nursing. With support from her Employment Coach, Jenelle first improved her English through the CLARS English Language Assessment program allowing her to complete her grade 12 diploma. From there, Jenelle enrolled in the Registered Practical Nursing program at Niagara College, acquiring her diploma and continuing her education at Nippissing University for her Bachelors of Nursing.
While Jenelle upgraded her education, her Employment Coach helped her land a job with a long-term care facility in Welland and a second job working in the community with Paramed Home Health in pediatrics.
Jenelle’s ambitious journey continues and she’s become a familiar face at the YMCA Employment Services office.
“I will always keep coming back to YMCA Employment Services until I find my forever job and I know they will help me find it,” she says.
“Much like the advice my husband offered to me years ago, if someone new to Canada were in a similar situation to me the first thing I would say is go to the YMCA, they can put you on the right path.”