Jessica McIntyre knew that she was ready for a change when she no longer found her job in the hospitality industry as fulfilling as it once was. Personal experiences and the desire for a new career led Jessica to Eastern College and the Child and Youth Care with Addictions Support Worker diploma program.

A Child and Youth Care Worker helps young people and their families discover what makes them unique and supports them on their journey to success.

The half-day classes were a huge draw for Jessica, because it meant that she could continue working while she was going to school. “I actually kept working full-time while I was going to school,” she said. “The only reason I could even do that was because Eastern offered the half-day classes. It was crazy and a lot of work, but I wouldn’t have changed my experience. When you love something, you just gotta do it.”

During her time at Eastern, Jessica found that she really enjoyed the smaller class sizes, saying she got to know her classmates quickly. “I was a mature student going back to school,” she said. “It was like ‘oh my gosh, I gotta get back into the groove of things!’ remember how to study, how to do homework, but Eastern made everything so easy.”

Now, Jessica is working at a specialized group home working with kids who have behavioural issues. After gaining hands on experience through her field placement, she feels that she is prepared for her new career. “The most exciting part of my new job is the kids themselves,” she said. “Watching the growth happen, it’s just incredible what you can see when you step back and really look at it.”

FACULTY OF HEALTHCARE

Offering a wide variety of healthcare diploma programs, Eastern College provides you with an education that prepares you for a career within one of the fastest growing job sectors in today’s workforce.

Students will learn key competencies in their respective programs from seasoned healthcare professionals, giving them advanced knowledge as well as practical hands-on experience.