New job, new challenges

(Photos from the BC Construction Association conference in Nanaimo. I got to wear a hard hat for the first time!)

In 1980, Luis Alvarez proposed that a meteorite led to the demise of the dinosaurs. The very idea that a "chance" occurrence could change history - even wipe out an entire species - cast doubt upon the Darwinian theory of evolution and the process of natural selection. Does everything happen for a reason? Or is everything random?

When my mom lost her job seven years ago, someone suggested that she go to the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) to get some help. The warmth was palpable the minute I stepped through the door. As I was browsing the information rack, I was struck by the amount of challenges immigrants face. Where do they find housing? How do they get a job? How do they get medical care? Where do they find schools for their kids? Who do they talk to if they are facing legal problems? As Canadians, we take services for granted, but for newcomers, they may not how to access these things. What a wonderful resource VIRCS is - all this information and help under one roof!

While I was living in Japan, I thought about my career choices. I loved music, but I didn't want to pursue a career in musicology and I didn't want to teach piano anymore. I felt I needed something more rewarding and challenging. I loved teaching English, but was sometimes frustrated at my students' apathy. Then I began thinking about my mom. She was enrolled in English classes at the time and was making great strides. It was amazing to see her confidence grow. Previously, I had to help her with everything - from filling forms to making appointments - and now she could do everything herself! She was making friends from all over the world, learning new things and gaining independence. Now that I have lived in a foreign country myself, I realize what an accomplishment it is to be able to do things on your own and not having to rely on others. I still remember the day when I could withdraw money from the ATM without any help, and what a great feeling that was! So, I decided that I wanted to teach English to immigrants and refugees, to those who need and want to learn the most.

When I came back to Canada, I starting volunteering at VIRCS once a week while continuing my studies. One day, I just happened to see a job opening at the centre and applied at once. I didn't think that I had a hope in hell, so mentioned my mother and her story in the cover letter and I sent it. To my surprise, I got an interview. I didn't get that job, but a few months later, I got a call offering me a position as a case manager. And that's how I ended up here.

What is a case manager? In a nutshell, I help people in their job search. We are not a placement agency, so we don't "find" them a job and take a cut from their paycheque. We help our clients understand the Canadian work environment and the labour market, how to network, how to access federal services, write resumes and cover letters, etc. It can be really stressful sometimes, and I often feel inexperienced and inadequate. But it is an incredibly rewarding and challenging job. I meet people from all over the world - our clients come from over 100 countries!(We have incredible potlucks!) Each and every one of them brings a new perspective. I learn so much from them. And they come from all walks of life - I've helped people who are concrete finishers, artists, veterinarians, architects, financial analysts...you name it! It's fascinating learning about all these professions. The job certainly keeps me on my toes. You never know what will happen and you never know who will walk in the door. Everyday is a new possibility.

Do I believe in fate? That one tiny moment - accompanying my mom to the centre - really did change my life. So, you never know how things will turn out...something that may have seen inconsequential can turn out to be life-altering.