I love my new job at Claytree Society, it is the greatest place on Earth! I had the opportunity to complete my practicum with Claytree Society, working with physically disabled adults and was offered a position shortly afterwards. Working in this field was a dream for me for some time and I would like to thank my mom, daughter and instructor Jan Hull for being such a great source of support and encouragement. Going back to school was the best choice I could have made!
I was just offered a position as a Medical Office Assistant at Wellington Medical Clinic and I can’t wait to start this exciting new chapter in my life! Due to an injury, I found myself needing to change careers after 11 years working as a Care Aide. I enrolled at Sprott Shaw College and had a great experience in the Medical Office Assistant/Administrative Assistant program. I attended a few job interviews shortly after graduating and knew that when this position was offered it was the right fit for me. Thank you to all the staff at the Nanaimo campus!
I came to Sprott Shaw undecided and didn’t know what to do. I talked to Phil Nealy and he made it possible for me to get in to the Health Care Assistant Program. Giving English is my second language it was a big challenge for me. With all the help and support provided for me from all the staff and instructors I graduated with an Honours Diploma and I got the job two weeks after completing my program. I am now a Registered Health Care Assistant.
Thank you Sprott Shaw College for making my dreams possible.
I am a trained chef and had been working in the Hospitality Industry for 5 years but felt there was a void and my passion for business found me on Sprott Shaw’s doorstep. I met with Phil the Career Advisor and came to the decision of registering for the Professional Business Management Program.
I graduated November 2012 with an Honours Diploma in Business Management. I really enjoyed my time at Sprott Shaw College the teachers and staff were very nice and helpful. I would like to thank everybody for the support given. I now find myself embarking on a new Career in Business working for a local Real Estate Company and am excited to apply my new found skills in to real life practice.
For many years I wanted to go back to school and work in an area that was my passion. I just never knew how I was going to do it. Recently I went through some major changes in my life and thought that now was as good a time as ever to take that leap of faith. After evaluating myself and what I wanted out of a career I came to the decision that I wanted to get into health care. I decided to specialize in Practical Nursing and I came across Sprott Shaw College as a place I could achieve my goal. With the help of my teachers, advisors, and all the staff I was able to complete the Practical Nurse program with honours, something I thought never possible after being away from school for nearly a decade. I am excited to say that I have accepted a job as a LPN and have a few more prospects on the go. None of this would have been possible without all the support I received from everyone at Sprott Shaw!
In 2012, when Andy D. was learning about cancer in his Practical Nursing Program, it dawned upon him: he had cancer.
All Sprott Shaw alumni have unique stories to tell, but Andy’s is one of incredible strength, perseverance, and selflessness. “We were discussing cancer in class,” he recalls, “I decided that I had some of the symptoms. […] Just at the end of the school semester, before our practicums, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer.”
Almost anyone would have put down the textbooks at that point, but Andy was an exceptional man. “With a lot of guidance and help from the teachers, I decided to go ahead with the program, and managed to make it to graduation.”
Not only did Andy graduate, he did so as class valedictorian, and completed his practicum and practical training while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. “It was a hard process,” he says lightly. Rather than feeling sorry for himself, Andy was sorry that his former classmates were already working while he was still working on his own recovery.
As a mature student (though he doesn’t look his 50+ years) and cancer survivor, Andy knows full well the value of time. “I didn’t want to wait forever,” he says. So it was no surprise when he returned to Sprott Shaw in Spring, 2013, for refresher courses. More than sharpening and upgrading his skills and knowledge, the refresher restored something important: his confidence.
“I finally had the confidence to apply for work; I had two interviews in one day and, before the interviews ended, was offered two jobs. I started yesterday,” Andy smiles. In that smile is the satisfaction of not only overcoming cancer and chemotherapy, but of never failing to care for others as he was failing in health.
Andy is now cancer-free and working as a Licensed Practical Nurse – just in time for Spring. We wish him all the best with his health, career, and journey in life.
Are you or someone you know a Sprott Shaw alum with a story to share? Let us know!
I graduated from Sprott Shaw September 2012, and I am proud to say “I love my career!” Studying at Sprott Shaw College was an opportunity for me to upgrade my future without putting my life on hold.
The skills that I developed from my time at Sprott Shaw have proven to be invaluable. My new skill set has set me apart from other candidates in the job market. I now have the poise and confidence to reach higher than I have ever had the ability to before.
Sprott Shaw offered me a solid business and technological background that enabled me to transition smoothly from classroom to the real world.
The instructors offered intelligent lessons that were engaging and challenging. The support team was just top notch; welcoming and warm are just two of the many words I could use to describe them.
Without Sprott Shaw I would not be where I am today. I am now a highly valued and respected team member of Stanley Black & Decker, which is a multi-national, fortune 500 company. I am so energized to have the opportunity to succeed with an organization that excels in all its ventures. I plan not only to thrive with Stanley Black & Decker but to excel alongside of them.
When I turned 40, I panicked and really thought hard about what I wanted to achieve in my life. The passion had been exhausted from my career at that time, so I quit my job and then I panicked again.
I walked into Sprott Shaw in January 2012 and met Phil. I sat down with him and I said, “I want to work with children or adults who have been diagnosed with autism.” Phil replied “I have just the course for you.” I wasn’t convinced as nowhere on the course outline did it specifically say “Autism”.
So, I panicked again and bombarded Phil with questions about the course and what if I change my mind and want to go in a different direction and not limit myself. Phil replied calmly “that’s why this course would be great for you ,as you will learn so many skills as well as everything you need for the field of Autism.”
Mmmmm, now I was intrigued.
Panic set in once again, so I called Phil and asked him “what if I can’t pass the exams? What if I need help?” I’m sure at this point Phil was thinking that I had serious self-esteem issues, but he didn’t say anything to indicate this. He calmly replied “the teachers and all the staff are here to guide you and help you through this course.” So, I signed on the dotted line and started the Community Support Worker – Social Services in March 2012.
Phil was right. The teachers and staff were great and without their knowledge and encouragement, I don’t know how I would have coped. I was challenged in a healthy way and learned so much about helping others. I expanded my mind and also learned so many new and exciting things about myself. My confidence grew and by the time I went onto practicum, I was raring to go out on my own.
Whilst on practicum at Little Steps Therapy Services, they offered me a position as a Behavioral Interventionist and now I work with children who have been diagnosed with Autism.
It’s always a challenge to find just the right job in difficult economic times. I felt pretty scared about the job market and my prospects for getting a job after graduation.
But thank you Sprott Shaw Pharmacy Assistant program for providing me the right skills and training to be competitive in my chosen career. A week after I finished my program, I found my dream job!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and consideration especially during the most difficult time in my life.
Once again, thank you Sprott Shaw for my Pharmacy Assistant Honours Diploma!
I would like to thank everyone at Sprott Shaw for making my time an amazing experience. When I first signed up for the Early Childhood Educator, of course I thought that going to college wasn’t going to be easy. Sprott Shaw made it all possible to get through everything without a worry. I made great friends along the way, and would like to thank everyone here for the support! I would recommend Sprott Shaw in a heartbeat to anyone that needs the push and the drive to go back to and get their post-secondary education.
I love my new job at Claytree Society, it is the greatest place on Earth! I had the opportunity to complete my practicum with Claytree Society, working with physically disabled adults and was offered a position shortly afterwards. Working in this field was a dream for me for some time and I would like to thank my mom, daughter and instructor Jan Hull for being such a great source of support and encouragement. Going back to school was the best choice I could have made!
