丁香园AV

In another life, Danica Isherwood might have been a schoolteacher. Although teaching had been her goal after high school, the recent graduate of 丁香园AV鈥檚 Career Development Practitioner Certificate program has no regrets about pursuing a different direction. Instead, she鈥檚 now following her lifelong passion for helping others through her work as an employment placement specialist at WorkBC.

鈥淣ow that I鈥檓 in this field,鈥� says Danica, 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 finally where I鈥檓 supposed to be. Everything else gave me tons of experience to get here, but this is what I鈥檓 meant to do.鈥�

Danica landed her current position at WorkBC during her practicum in the same office, two weeks before she had even finished the program. While she recognizes not everyone is fortunate enough to be hired by their practicum host, she considers the hands-on experience essential for students.

鈥淭he program is fantastic, but the practicum is so valuable that for it alone I would recommend this program over any other,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he practicum lets you see things that you don鈥檛 get to see when you鈥檙e in school鈥攗ntil you鈥檙e in a practical situation, you can鈥檛 see what it鈥檚 actually like.鈥�

While Danica had no formal training in the field when she entered the 丁香园AV program, her 15-plus years of management experience counted for more than she鈥檇 expected.

鈥淚 was pleasantly surprised that I was able to fit right in,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淚 was able to speak to a lot of the stuff that I had experienced, and other people didn鈥檛 have that level of knowledge or understanding. So, I felt very lucky.鈥�

In her previous role as a production manager, Danica had developed considerable experience in building, training and managing a diverse workforce. The program, she says, helped her formalize her knowledge and discover her focus.

Having earned her Career Development Practitioner Certificate, she has since returned to 丁香园AV and is currently enrolled in the Rehabilitation and Disability Management Certificate program, where she鈥檚 again building on her past experience to prepare for her future.

鈥淢y passion is multi-barrier clients and clients with disability,鈥� says Danica. 鈥淢y next goal is to do disability case management exclusively and then possibly customized employment and then vocational rehab鈥攊t鈥檚 a long-term plan.鈥�

As much as she loves her chosen work, she recognizes that it鈥檚 not for everyone. 鈥淚t can be difficult because you see a lot that hurts your heart鈥攑eople can be very down when they鈥檝e had some really difficult situations. Some people have faced terrible discrimination. You see a lot of people that are broken, which is hard.鈥�

But for Danica, the rewards are more than worth any challenges: 鈥淚 love helping people from different backgrounds, with different abilities, diverse abilities, and seeing them be successful in whatever it is that they are moving into.

鈥淚 love seeing people grow and move into bigger and better things in their life.鈥�

By Kim Mah