Better Skills Lead to Better Jobs

Norquest - Your Bridge to Success

Norquest College web site:
http://www.norquest.ab.ca

To the students of Norquest, it's not where you came from that counts. It's who you are and what you are achieving. Everyone has a story to tell - success through education is the story most students like to share.

Just getting by is simply not an option for those on the path to realizing their dreams. For these students, education is life changing. "When fate shuts a door, come through the window."

Kim Lowe always dreamed about applying to the police force. To qualify, she needed her high school diploma. Taking the first step to realizing her dream, she enrolled in the Academic Upgrading program at Norquest College in Edmonton.

Hoping to get experience with law enforcement, Kim researched volunteering at the Community Police Station for her Work Experience for Credit course at Norquest. She didn't meet the requirements to apply for the program.

Undaunted, Kim took a different avenue.

She went for specialized tutor training and began teaching inmates in Math and English at the Remand Centre. She knew she had found her niche.

"I loved volunteering at the Remand Centre," said Lowe. "It was very rewarding. I even put in more than the required hours needed to complete my Work Experience for Credit course at Norquest to graduate. I just knew law enforcement was where I wanted to be.

With work experience under her belt, Kim applied for the police force. She didn't make the cut.

"I was devastated," describes Lowe. "But I drew strength from my daughter and told myself to keep going. I refused to quit."

Unable to give up on her dream, Kim sought more training to strengthen her application. She registered in Norquest's Loss Prevention and Security program, graduating with top marks.

While working in the security industry, Kim heard about an Aboriginal Job Development Program with the police force. With even more work experience and skill training from Norquest, Kim was certain she would get in.

Finally, she got a break.

In May, Kim was accepted into the program and is now working toward the upcoming recruits class with the police force.

"The key to realizing your dreams is education," advises Lowe, "and perseverance is everything."

"If you don't hear opportunity knocking, find another door."

Two years ago, Shelley Gratrix made a decision that would change her life. She left a secure job with the government to pursue her dreams of becoming a Social Worker.

"I wasn't happy working with computers," explains Gratrix. "I wanted to work more with people. I knew I needed to make a change."

Shelley found a social work program at Grant MacEwan Community College but didn't have the prerequisites to apply. She contacted Norquest College.

As a single mom, Shelley juggled being a student with volunteering at the FoodBank.

"Going back to school after 20 years was definitely a challenge," said Gratrix. "But I was ready for it. Nothing was going to stop me."

While still in school at Norquest, Shelley applied for the Social Work program at GMCC. She didn't meet the requirements. She needed to complete her English 30 course in full before re-applying. She also needed more volunteer experience related to social work.

Enrolling in the Work Experience for Credit course at Norquest, she quickly identified her passion in working with high-risk teens and was placed at St. Thomas More School to align with this new focus.

"My experience at St. Thomas More was incredible," describes Gratrix. "I was able to develop skills used in social work."

Completing her prerequisites at Norquest, Shelley re-applied for the Social Work program at GMCC and was accepted this year.

"Norquest got me back into the groove of going to school," said Gratrix. "It got me in the door and prepared me for Grant MacEwan."

Ordinary people become extraordinary by accessing education. Education opens doors and gets you on the right track to being able to determine your future. Education increases opportunity. Increased opportunity translates into more choice and more stability. And better skills lead to better jobs. Education is truly your bridge to success.

Visit the Norquest College web site at http://www.norquest.ab.ca

*Some names have been changed to protect confidentiality.