At the tail end of my twenties, I was looking for a change. I began volunteering and spending time in my community. I soon enrolled as a part-time student at Seneca, working towards my Social Service Worker diploma.

My days began in boardrooms and ended well into the evenings in classrooms, but I was thrilled to be pursuing something I felt good about. I soon found a role aligned with my passion for human services, and I haven’t looked back.

I found the part-time student experience to be flexible and easily accessible. I hadn’t been back to a college campus in almost nine years, and it felt daunting to find my classroom and organize myself for the semester.

As a part-time student, I was able to choose a class schedule that worked for me. Plus, both Seneca campuses I have studied at (Newnham and King) are easy to navigate after a couple of visits.

My most memorable experience at Seneca was helping at the last on-campus Open House right before the pandemic. It was rewarding to give back and provide tours and information to incoming students.

I participated in Seneca’s Student Mentoring in Life and Education (SMILE) program and enjoyed it very much. I also acted as a campus tour guide. I enjoyed connecting with other students and strengthening my leadership skills.

Along with a few of my fellow Social Service Worker (SSW) students, I organized a canned food drive at the Newnham campus to benefit the Mississauga Food Bank. It was a great way to engage students in other programs, and we were able to collect quite a bit of food to benefit the charity. I learned valuable networking and communication skills for working with non-profits.

After completing my SSW diploma and working in the field, I decided that I wanted to work within the community, specifically focusing on mental health. The Honours Bachelor of Mental Health and Addiction (BMHA) degree aligned perfectly with my educational and career goals, so I applied and was accepted!

The pathway from the SSW to the BMHA provided me with a valuable opportunity to build upon my existing diploma. Plus, the process was straightforward.

Seneca made it easy for me to learn more about my potential degree and apply for entry into the bridging semester.

Without the bursaries and scholarships obtained through Seneca, I wouldn’t have been able to complete my education. I received some excellent advice from instructors telling me to be sure to apply for available bursaries and scholarships each semester.

I have received the following awards at Seneca: the Stephen E. Quinlan Next Generation Award, the Walker Wood Foundation Mental Health Award, the Simran & Kevin Thusoo Award and the Margie Bader Mentoring Leadership Award.

My advice to students seeking financial aid during their educational journey is to apply, even if you don’t think you’re qualified. Don’t sell yourself short!

Also, volunteering and participating in student activities is an excellent way to network and round out your application when applying for awards.

Seneca’s SSW program established an excellent foundation for my learning and ignited my passion for human services and mental health, while Seneca’s Mental Health and Addiction degree taught me that the most valuable clinical instrument at my disposal is myself.

I was provided with opportunities to practice critical personal reflection and take an ongoing inventory of my internal landscape. The student placement experiences within these programs have helped me be more self-reflective about my critical processes and encouraged me to challenge my distinct pedagogical exposures.

It was a little nerve-wracking! However, it’s been fantastic. It’s been a learning experience because it’s a new academic institution that does things differently. Admittedly, I had a few weeks at the beginning where I was “homesick” for Seneca. I’d made a lot of great connections, and it was bittersweet to say goodbye.

The foundation of knowledge I amassed while completing my diploma and degree programs has prepared me for master-level learning, and I have settled into my studies nicely.

If you’re looking for a change or to upgrade your skills, don’t wait. Go for it. I completed my SSW diploma over about three years, taking two or three classes at a time.

Sometimes it felt like I’d been at it for a long time. Now that I am nearing the end of my master’s, it seems to have flown by!

You know yourself best. If you’re taking part-time classes, select a class schedule that works best for your life. One of the reasons I chose Seneca was because they set the standard for continuing education. I took most of my SSW classes in the evenings while working full-time.

While it would have been nice to go back to school full-time when I’d initially started my Seneca journey, it wasn’t realistic. Luckily, I chose a college that provided numerous non-traditional avenues for learning to help me to reach my goals.

I completed my master’s degree in social work at Wilfrid Laurier University in the summer of 2023. I’ve joined a fantastic counselling team. And my husband and I recently welcomed our first child. It's definitely a change not being in school, but I've been keeping busy.

I discovered specific issues and challenges that deeply resonate with me while doing my internships in the master’s program. And I plan to pursue specialized training to better serve my clients. I've also been engaging with my community connections to explore opportunities for future group facilitation. Gloria Steinem's words really speak to me: “Education isn't just something you get; it's a journey that never stops.” I'm excited for the next chapter!