It seems like only yesterday that I was starting the Special Education Assistant Diploma Program and here I am now – my journey being a Stenberg student has come to an end. Today, I have completed my full practicum which is the last part of the program requirement. As I’m writing this blog, I still can’t believe that it is over. Well, technically, our last day is tomorrow. We will meet our instructor along with our practicum monitors and of course, our classmates for the last time in the campus.

I remembered how uncertain I was when I started the course. I thought it would take me great lengths to adjust. But the opposite happened. I enjoyed returning to school, actually more so than when I went to college many years ago. This is because our class was so amazing and fun. Our teamwork is evident in all the activities we have done. We certainly could not make it this far without our extremely wonderful instructor who never ceased to believe in us, guide us and share with us her knowledge, skills and experience. Her learning strategy helped us have a deeper understanding of our lessons. Her constant positive feedback gave us confidence in our abilities.

I am overjoyed in attaining my aspiration and at the same time, feel sad as I will miss everyone in our class. This is one of lifes realities – changes takes place. But one thing is for sure; tomorrow will be a momentous day for all of us in class.

Since this is my last blog as well, I might as well share a little view of how I made it this far. Please know that anyone can be great. You just have to have that heart of willingness in everything you do. Willingness to learn, to sacrifice and to work is important. Have a goal and stick to it. If you stumble into any kind of hardship during your studies, take it as a necessary ingredient to succeed. Enjoy learning J

It’s hard to believe but this will be my last blog as this is the last week at school for our class. The time has simply flown by. I don’t know what to write about as there is so much going through my mind right now. We met up as a class today for the first time in five weeks and it seems like it was only yesterday that we were together.

We all had different stories of our practicum experiences, some people were missing as they were actually working already (good for them!!!) but we hope to see them later this week and catch up. I think we were a great class – we were a mixture of ages and personality types but that did not seem to matter. We not only supported each other but we also showed a great deal of respect for each other and even now continue to support each other as we move forward in reaching our goals.

We’ve had a lot of laughter, some (no, make that a lot of) tears, lots of homework and many doubts; but we were encouraged by our instructors and also by each other with genuine wishes for everyone to succeed. It truly was the best learning experience I’ve had in my life and I thank each and everyone.

Learning isn’t just reading in a book and answering questions on an exam – learning is listening, helping someone else who is perhaps struggling with a concept or by simply giving of you – being there – and each and every one of us did that. I am so proud of us that my heart is filling up and I can’t wait until we all stride across that stage with our heads held high (with a certain somebody running back for her forgotten Ikea umbrella!) We did it – take a well deserved bow!

I feel there were many reasons I was successful while attending Stenberg. I had great teachers, peers, and felt a sense of community at the campus. The school was always having activities and events geared towards having the students from different programs interact. They were always well thought out and a good time for all.

My favourite event was halloween. My class participated in the pumpkin carving contest. I have to say, it was interesting to see all the pumpkins done by the different groups, we all seemed to carve ideas based on our programs. For example, our pumpkin was a nurse, syringe and all!

I made an effort during my time there, to be a real part of the school. I was my class representative and attended as many meetings as I could. I was proactive to have things changed to the school in order to make it better for the students. You know the water cooler in the student kitchen? I had part in getting that So, you are welcome!

I was honoured, as I said before, to be named ‘Student of the Year’. What an amazing achievement to strive for! And what an awesome thing for the college to do. I always felt that the school’s goal was to have their students succeed, and most of us have! You are a product of where you come from, so if you are trained well, you will do well, and Stenberg provides that.

Enjoy your time there. Work your hardest, be part of the school community and activities, be positive and supportive to your peers, and you never know what may come of it. You too may be ‘Student of the Year’!

Seeing Stenberg post a note on their facebook page about an upcoming career fair with Fraser Health reminded me of when I was first on the job search. The excitement of graduation was short lived as then I realized I needed to find work in order to start paying back that student loan I accumulated. Oh, not to mention in a couple months I would be writing my licensing exam! Oh, no stress at all…..

If you are on your preceptorship or are going to be starting it, the most important thing you can do is make contacts! Find out who the manager of the unit is, and get to know them. They will be the one making the decision to hire you or not. It is important to make a great impression while working there. Of course, you need to work hard and have the staff on your side as well.

There is a backlog when it comes to hiring, as it takes a long time for them to go through ALL the resumes they receive. It is a major competition, so any advantage you can get, please do!

I was very lucky to have a job right after school. I was working as soon as I had my interim license. I took the time to establish a good working relationship with my co-workers and proved I was good at my job. By the end of my preceptorship the manager came to me to ask me to come work there!

I work for Fraser Health, at 2 hospitals. Go check out the career fair, they are great to work for!

Tonight, trying to find inspiration for this last blog is nearly killing me. I’m staring at this page like it’s a tired old washcloth—something unpleasant and hard to wring out. I did think about writing of cats, or of failed personal diets. But I’ve done the cat bite thing and diets are boring. If I could speak in tones of stunning sunsets, I would do that. Or if I could quote the lines of Shakespeare, I could do that.

I could write reflectively on the last six months of college: about the early mornings grabbing coffee on the way to school; about fellow students with their quirky (and fun) personalities; about shared dreams and visions over glasses of wine, of racing to the car at break time to avoid a parking ticket, or of potlucks filled with homemade food and donuts. However, even these things don’t feel right for this blog.

I could speak of projects or first aid procedures—how to save a life, or protect my own. I could mention sweating over personal care scenarios and the big sigh of relief that followed when it was done. I’ve room left to write about crossed fingers, muttered prayers, and final exam mark postings. I could mention student appreciation days, Blenz gift cards, gingerbread houses, Christmas gift baskets, Haiti, and pajamas, but that’s been done before too.

Maybe all I want to say is “thank you” to everyone who made the last six months enjoyable and interesting. So, without further ado (Ha! That’s from Shakespeare!) “Thank you!”

I attended Stenberg in 2007/08 taking the Licensed Practical Nursing program. I have to say even 2 years later, I still miss it! I have many great memories from my time there I have remained friends with fellow classmates since graduation and even work with one! You develop a bond like no other. Heck, I don’t know many friends who would willingly let me inject them with a needle!

The one thing I want to pass on to the current students now, is you will have great success after. Stenberg had a great reputation when I was out on clinicals, and I am sure it has only gotten better in the last 2 years! We were always complimented on our knowledge and work ethic. I guess we have the wonderful teachers to thank for that. Well, No, I want to take some credit for that too. They gave us the tools and guidance we needed to become successful, but it was our hard work and determination that made it happen.

Not being a current student, in my blogs I want to share with you past experiences from my time at Stenberg and also what I have experienced since. I have been fortunate enough to have worked in many areas as an Practical Nurse over the last 2 years. At Stenberg, I was honored with being Valedictorian at graduation and also won Student of the Year! That was such a blessing. What other school do you know of that awards one person annually their full tuition back!! No matter what field you are in, you will be well prepared for your careers ahead. There is definitely success after Stenberg!

My job is missing. I must find it! Is it in Langley or in Surrey? Where oh where is that job?

This is the last week of my Resident Care Attendant program. The focus now is on conducting an extensive job search. To me, this is the hardest part of the course. Yes, anatomy was challenging, but I did find out that I have a tricuspid valve and that my liver performs over 200 different functions. And yes, it took practice before I was able to perfect finding my resting heart rate, but eventually I was able to find it and count it and I’m happy to note that I am alive (according to my heart beat).

Today we had a guest speaker who taught us how to apply for jobs online. We were also taught how to give a proper handshake. Not as easy as it sounds, actually. There are many kinds of handshakes: the wimpy wet fish handshake, the tentative “I don’t really want you to touch me” handshake, and the aggressive break the fingers handshake. We were taught how to give the friendly, “nice to meet you” handshake without bone breakage or slippery fish feel.

Tomorrow I have to bring to class answers to the questions of why the interviewer should hire me. Easy: because I’m cute. The next question is why do I want to work here? Easy: because I need a job. What are my weaknesses? Easy: Chocolate and caramel lattes. I guess looking for work won’t be as hard as I’d imagined (just kidding!).

Good luck to everyone in the process of finding work. You’ve worked hard already, now go and get ‘em!

The end is nigh: The end of this week, the end of practicum, the end of classes (and the end of support payments. Oh, to find a job in a hurry!)

When the Resident Care Aide program began last September, the months stretched ahead seemingly interminably. I hadn’t been a student in years and I wondered how on earth I could I survive that long. But the seemingly impossible happened during the six months at Stenberg College: I stuffed my head full of new knowledge, I studied, wrote and passed exams; I learned how to take a blood pressure reading and how to save a life. Recently, I even got used to changing soiled disposables.

And now everything that I’ve been taught, every bit of information that has been drilled into me, will come into play. The time has come to either put up, or shut up, to sink or to swim, to go big or go home . . . well, you get the idea.

I haven’t had time to do any reminiscing yet, but I’ve no doubt that that will come, eventually. After hundreds of resumes are sent out and job interviews are dealt with and hopefully, employment comes my way and I’m settled into my chosen profession—then I will have time to sit back and reminisce. And I know there will be a mix of many funny, frustrating and fond memories, with “friends” thrown in for good measure.

I could say that end is nigh, but really, aren’t things just beginning?

Did I ever tell you that I took a course in standup comedy? No? Well I did. The lessons lasted several weeks, and afterward, my fellow comics and I did two comedy shows—one in New Westminster and one at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver. The latter was a benefit show in support of mental health. It was quite an experience! It is hard work being a comedian, and I’m not kidding. Besides coming up with funny material for the show, I found it a challenge to keep my knees from knocking together while I was on stage.

Last night I found out to my surprise and joy that I’ve been elected class valedictorian (thank you, Stenberg!). I have five minutes at the upcoming graduation in which to either “wow” people with my oratory skills, or make a total and complete idiot of myself. As I write my valedictorian speech I will be battling with the urge to turn the thing into a comedy sketch. I’ll do my best to resist the temptation to begin with “A funny thing happened to me on the way to the auditorium . . .” or something similar to that.

Talking about graduation means that practicum for my Residential Care Aide class is near the end: Only one and a half weeks to go. Already we are telling one another not to lose contact. “Stay in touch” will no doubt be our new mantra from now until the close of graduation night. Meanwhile I’ll try very hard not to embarrass you all at the grad ceremony (lol).