I highly recommend attending Confederation College if you are looking for practical skills, job-related experience, small class sizes, and wonderful teachers.
My experience was very positive and led me to the career I have today. I encountered amazing teachers and classmates, and maintain relationships with some of them to this day.
Why I Chose Confederation College
I chose Confederation College because after I finished my degrees at Lakehead University, I was looking for a program that would give me practical experience and hireable skills.
How Confederation College Has Changed My life
Confederation College has changed my life by giving me a placement opportunity that resulted in my current career. If it wasn't for the Aboriginal Community Advocacy program and its accompanying field placement, I likely would not hold the position I do today.
My Most Positive Experience or Memory of Confederation College
My most positive experience or memory of Confederation College was developing lifelong friendships with my classmates. Because classes are so small, you really get a chance to know each other and form meaningful and lasting relationships with them.
My Recollection of a Teacher Who Made a Difference
Jana Rae-Yerxa was a teacher who made a huge difference in my school and personal life. Jana is the type of person who will welcome you with open arms and be there to support you when you need it. She wants to see all of her students succeed and she will go out of her way to make sure they do. She is funny, understanding, compassionate, intelligent, and genuinely so kind. Jana is one-of-a-kind and I am honoured to have been her student.
My Job & Job Responsibilities
Research Assistant - my primary job responsibility is to support our Researcher with whatever they need assistance on. What Brings Me the Greatest Satisfaction From My Job The greatest satisfaction from my job is knowing that the work I am doing is meaningful and makes a difference in people's lives. My work is so much bigger than myself and that brings me great joy.
How Confederation College Has Prepared Me for Work in the Field?
I had a field placement through my program (Aboriginal Community Advocacy - Accelerated) which I believe ultimately led to me obtaining full-time employment with the organization. My Advice for Someone Considering this Program or Career Path It's so important to come into this program and career path with an open mind and understanding that advocacy work can be challenging yet rewarding.
The Most Sought-After Qualifications & Talents That Employers are Currently Seeking in this Field of Work
Someone who understands the unique challenges that Indigenous people in Canada face as a result of settler colonialism. Someone who understands and appreciates the resilience and resistance of Indigenous people as they fight tirelessly against the settler colonial state. Someone who understands the multiplicity of Indigenous world views and ways of knowing. My Sense of the Current Job Market Conditions in my Field of Work (local, provincial, national or international) I'm honestly not too sure. I do know that my organization is currently hiring however.
My Personal Success Highlights
After I finished my double-major in Political Science and Women's Studies at Lakehead University, I tried applying for several jobs that had successful interviews but ultimately, someone else had more experience than I. After growing frustrated with this pattern, I started looking at Confederation College's website for programs that might interest me. I stumbled upon the Aboriginal Community Advocacy - Accelerated program and was immediately interested. I was interested for two primary reasons:
- The first being that the program involves a field placement, which I felt would increase my chances of obtaining employment.
- And the second being my journey of self-discovery and decolonization as a Metis Anishinaabe Kwe. Because I grew up completely disconnected from that piece of my identity, I felt a strong desire to learn more and connect with that part of me.
The program exceeded my expectations with both of these two reasons of interest. I not only gained valuable job skills and related experience, I also earned my dream job while connecting with my Indigenous identity in a good way. Ultimately my time at Confederation College has played a massively positive role in my personal life and career.
Final Thoughts
I would just like to emphasize just how positive my experience with the Aboriginal Community Advocacy program and its Program Coordinator, Jana Rae-Yerxa, has been.