The end of an era.

It was the end of high school. I wasn't sure what to do next. I was still working at Metro and didn't know if I wanted to continue for another year. Then, a special care counselor told me I could spend an afternoon in a program at Cegep of Sherbrooke. I though about it and wanted go to explore the Special Care Counseling program and Early Childhood Education program. I then went to explore those programs. Nevertheless, now two choices were available to me.

Choice 1 : Apply to Special Care Counseling.

Choice 2 : Apply to Ealry Childhood Education.

Apply to special care counseling.

I decided to go to Cegep of Sherbrooke to study special care counseling and put aside and quit my dead-end job to priories my study. At first, I did felt overwhelm, in some of my course, I went volunteering at two different places. But because of my time management skills, I was able to pull off a passing grade in all of my courses. After 3 great years and many anxiety attacks, I graduated. Now, I can apply for a job that will lead me to a career as a special care counselor.

Choice 1 : Apply to School service center of Sherbrooke

Choice 2 : Apply to University of Sherbrooke to continue my studies

Apply to Ealry Childhood Education.

I decided to apply to the Early Childhood Education program and, I decided to keep my job at Metro to set aside money for my studies. At first, I didn't get straight A's, because I did struggle at first with how cegep was different from high school. I did an internship in a day care during my second semester in the program. I did enjoy my first internship even if I was more often than not alone with all the kids in my day care group I was assigned. After 4 years. I finally graduated from my program. Now I can apply for a job that will lead me to a career as an Early Childhood educator.

Choice 1 : Apply to a day care near me

Choice 2 : Apply to University of Sherbrooke in the Preschool Teacher program

The girl who hated school is working there now, what?

I am now officially a special care counselor, and I am working at the same elementary school where I did my last internship in my program. Before I was officially employed, the HR had to do a background check, it was quick and easy. Thank god! When I started working in my kindergarten class, it didn't take me time to learn the ropes. After 10 years, working with kindergarten kids, I started to be tired of the drive of work. Over the years, after COVID-19 happened, the school environment became worst physically but also mentally. So, two choices were offered to me.

Choice 1 : Quit the school environment to work with oldest people

Choice 2 : Quit and go work with people who got accidents

Why not gaining knowledge and do a certificate of intervention in intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders.

It has never been a dream to go at University because everyone knows how it cost a lot of money and, I didn't have a lot of income. But I decided to apply to get more knowledge about autism spectrum disorder and also why not studying a bit more, so it can add me a premium wage if I finish my certificate completely.

Choice 1 : Apply to work at Autism Estrie

Choice 2 : Continuing University or leave?

Working with kids is fun, right?

I'm now working with kids who are around 2 to 4 years old. In a daycare that I've never been before. Every day there is a lot of cries, laugh, fight, but you get used to it when you're working with those little monsters.

Choice 1 : Start over

Studying to become a Preschool teacher, WHAT?

I'm now studying to become a Preschool Teacher. It's a long program, nearly 4 years of studies to become a Preschool teacher. That a lot but it would give me a good job with a range of age I like to work with.

Choice 1 : Graduate and start working as a Preschool teacher

Choice 2 : Quit the program, I'm depress

Working with my favorite people.

After I graduated from University, I applied to work at Autism Estrie, and I really love that! I go to people's houses and give respite to the parents, so they can do their laundry, groceries. For now, I created good connection with those parents and kids I help. Now after 20 years of giving my time to those families, I decided to retire.

Choice 1 : Start over

Continuing University or leave?

I'm still unsure if I want to start another certificate. It would give me another 1 year at University. I think I'll need some times to think about it.

Choice 1 : Start over

I am now a preschool teacher!

I'm now a preschool teacher, I apply to work at my childhood school, it reminded me a lot of good and bad memories. I even had the chance to see teachers I had when I was myself a little girl, it did felt weird working in the same place as them. The kids of my class calls me ''Miss Crystelle'', it does felt weird, I'm not already used to be called that. After 36 years working as a preschool teacher, I decided to retire, I'm now 65 years old, I do deserve a good pension, right?

Choice 1 : Start over

Overwhelm by everything, including me.

Well, I left the program. It didn't work well, there were a lot of assignments, expectations, and I couldn't handle everything. I then decided to leave the program.

Choice 1 : Start over

New job, new age of people.

I apply to work at seniors' home. There I create activity to stimulate those people. While I was in the elevator with one of the seniors, the men, who can walk without a cane started approaching me, too close. He started touching my hips and waist, telling me about how I was pretty, and other things inappropriate things he shouldn't say to someone who's working there. I then went to my boss's office because I didn't know what do do now after that sexual harassment. He then gives me the opportunity to choose what I wanted to do, there would be no charge against the senior because it's not like he wanted to harass me, my boss said to me feeling unsafe and unsupported, I then decided to quit my job.

Choice 1 : End

Working at the CNESST, a new path?

I apply to work at the CNESST after a colleague from my previous job told me about it. Herself was thinking about leaving the school environment to go try a new path of our career. Again, like when I got my special care educator job, the HR of the CNESST had to do a background check, when everything was clear like a crystal, I started working. I was really different from what I knew. I was sharing a desk roomed with another colleague who became a great friend after some time getting to know each other. At my new job, I am the one who got contact with the people who had an accident and can't work for now, each week I call them to get news from them, but also from their job they were working at before it happened. After 15 years working there, I decided to retire.

Choice 1 : End