After working as a pharmacy technician for 22 years, I was faced with having to leave my job due to repetitive motion injuries I sustained at work.  At the age of 49, I was extremely scared. I knew I would need to go back to school, but what could I do at my age?

I always wanted to be a teacher but I couldn’t go back to school for 5 years due to lack of finances. That’s when I decided to take the full time Educational Assistant course at the University of Winnipeg, PACE.

I had real mixed feelings about going back to school as I hadn’t attended school for many years. Could I study? Could I retain information and actually learn? I quickly learned that I could do all of those things!

The material was so interesting and the instructors were so engaging that the retaining and learning just came naturally. I loved all of the courses and it was really great to be taught about all the diverse ways students learn. The instructor’s way of teaching was an interesting combination of lectures, videos, games and presentations. They were always available to help if needed and encouraged everyone along the way. I am now employed as a part-time educational assistant in the Pembina Trails School Division and on my days off, I work on a casual basis in the Seven Oaks School Division.

Choosing this as my second career was an excellent choice for me. I am so glad that I took the training I needed to get to where I am today. I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in becoming an educational assistant. I absolutely LOVE my job!

Angie Chabot
Educational Assistant
Seven Oaks School Division

I graduated from the Educational Assistant Diploma Program in 2011. Prior to doing this I worked in retail for ten years. I wasn’t satisfied with this profession, but I was fearful of doing something different. I wanted to do the program for over ten years, but never worked up the courage to actually do it. When I finally enrolled and was accepted, I was excited but still a little apprehensive. After all, it had been over fifteen years since I had graduated from high school. My experience in school hadn’t been ideal and I had come away with negative feelings about my abilities and my learning.

While I was in the Educational Assistant program, my eyes were opened to the wide range of learning disorders and needs that plague children these days. I had faced so many challenges as a child and felt that I would be able to relate and be able to assist children in my new role as an EA. During the program, I also gained confidence in my learning abilities. I realized that there are many different ways to learn. The instructors and staff in this program were extremely helpful. They provided assistance wherever needed, and did their best to ensure that we were successful in our studies. This positive experience whetted my appetite for learning. I plan to further my studies and have applied to the Faculty of Education. I am currently employed as a casual EA, working daily in the Seven Oaks School Division. I am really enjoying the experience and wish that I had done this a lot sooner.

Shonette Babb
Educational Assistant
Seven Oaks School Division