Introduction.

My name is Ruth Philogene, I just graduated from CEGEP in Accounting and Management Technology at Ahuntsic College. I have been waiting for this time to come for so long. I am so excited, finally, I am a technician in Accountant and Management. I am happy, but I am also worried because it is time for me to make a choice that I have been hiding from since day 1 at Ahuntsic College until today.

Choice 1 : Go to University

Choice 2 : Start working in a full-time job

Scene 1.

Making choices have always been difficult for me because I am a student who is thorough. You would probably ask yourself why. Why? It is simple, I have always had only straight A's on my report card, so in this case, when it comes to deciding, I have too many choices. While I was in the CEGEP, I almost put aside all of my friends to keep up my grades, so one day, I would be able to apply for a scholarship at a University in Business Management. It wasn't always easy to do this. Tough, I didn't have any choice because my parents spent a lot for me to get here, so I had to be thoughtful to their efforts. It was maddening for me to see my friends enjoying their life more than me, but today I am happy because I know that any university would kill to have me as their student. The only problem is now, where will I apply? MC Gill? HEC? University of Toronto?

Choice 1 : University of MC Gill

Choice 2 : University of Toronto

Choice 3 : HEC (Private Research University Business School)

Scene 2.

I decided to apply for a scholarship at MC Gill University for a bachelor of Commerce with Concentration in Accounting. Great news! I have been accepted, but they didn't approve to give me a scholarship. I felt so disappointed this day. Why is this happening to me? This question got sucked up in my head for weeks. Should I pay or should I abandon the idea to study at MC Gill? I knew I couldn't afford myself to pay for my fees' school because if I go there, I will also need to pay for a room on their campus. I didn't have enough money so my plan was a dead-end job. Going to MC Gill would have had many advantages on my future, but there were to many disadvantages, I had to give up. Bye Bye to my dream University.

Choice 1 : Game over! Start again!

Scene 3.

After the situation with MC Gill, I've sent my application to University Of Toronto for the same program. I was still sad, but I was motivated. I was sure that I would have been accepted because I got amazing grades, but I didn't know if I got the scholarship that I needed. It was the only thing that I was skeptical about University of Toronto. The worst happened! They rejected my application. Was I dreaming or not? Nope, it was real. They told me that they didn't convince that I had the right level in English for their University. Too much failure, I need a break! It was the only thing that I was sure about.

Choice 1 : Go to vacations

Scene 4.

Almost one year after my graduation, I sent my application to HEC for a bachelor in Business Management with Accounting concentration. I didn't ask for any kind of scholarship because I didn't want to feel disappointed. Great news! In less than one week, they accepted me at their University, and they even offer me a scholarship. It took time before I entered one of my dream Universities, but I did it. The contentment overflew. A Few months later, it was the first week of my new life. In my first accounting' course, they give us the plan, I was excited and stressed because it was huge. Some of the subjects were familiar, like assets, financial statement, liquidity assets, balance sheet. I didn't know what will come next; Would I still be a brilliant student? The only thing that it counted was, I was happy!

Choice 1 : Game over! Start again!

Scene 5.

Since I graduated in the field of Accounting and Management, I wanted to work in a full-time job in a field related to it. I knew what I wanted to do, but I also knew that anywhere I would apply, they would ask me for at least one year of experience. I was trying to figure out if I should apply or a real job or for an internship? While I was trying to figure it out, I was still working in my student employment at a CHSLD, but I started to feel alienated. I felt a lack of fulfillment because I wasn't working in my field, so I decided to quit my job to look for an opportunity to work in accounting and management. Would they hire me for a real job or an Internship?

Choice 1 : Apply for a vacant position in an Accounting and Management firm

Choice 2 : Apply for an internship

Scene 7.

I postulated for many jobs in different accounting firms. I also applied in small businesses as assistant payroll technician. Everywhere I applied, they asked me to pass some tests. I got tested about Excel, Access, and Word. I also had some tests on subject related to accounting as accounts receivable, account reconciliation, one of the hardest things to do in this field. I succeeded in all of them. I had many interviews scheduled because of my grades, my background, but once they started to interview me, they said that they couldn't hire me because I didn't know the ins-and-out of the position. They needed employees with more experience. I kept applying but was a dead-end-job.

Choice 1 : Game over! Start again!

Scene 8.

I have felt so overwhelmed, I needed to take a break from everything. So, I went back to my country for 3 months. The first week, I cried every day, I felt powerless, I was depressed. The second week, my dad asked me for my help with his businesses. He needed to replace his accountant for one week. I accepted to help him because I didn't have anything to do. It was the best choice I had ever made. Do you know why? This experience reminded me why I chose to study in Accountant and Management Technology. I helped him with his payroll, his taxes. I even gave some formations to his employees about sexual harassment, office politics. I enjoyed that time. I was proud of my accomplishment, and then, at this time, I realized that I needed to go back to Canada to chase my dreams.

Choice 1 : Game over! Start again!

Scene 9.

As I realized that I couldn't find an employment in accounting because of my lack of experience. I decided to apply at RBC, BMO, TD banks for an internship as an accountant. All of them interviewed me, but only RBC hired me. It was a great opportunity for me to have a foot in the door. In my first days, I was scared because most of the people who were there, had already a university degree while I only had a college degree. Why did they choose her? You are probably asking yourself right now! They did it because first of all, I had incredible grades, and I am an international student, it was also an opportunity for them to show their diversity. Second of all, internships were a good way for the company to save money. They didn't pay interns as they paid permanent employees. I spent one year at RBC as an intern, and I enjoyed this experience because it was like a test drive for me. I applied everything I learned about office politics in this job. One important thing that I did, was withholding my personal information. I was proud of my choice of career. I had chances to learn the ropes as an accountant technician. Sure, they didn't give me the salary that I expected, but the on-the-job-training really helped me. Today, I am working as a payroll technician in a permanent position for RBC. I work full-time, and they really pay me well. They even offer me a scholarship to continue at university.This is one of the benefits you can have when you work for a huge organization. They help you grow!

Choice 1 : Game over! Start again!