Faced with a life-altering change, Jamiel Folland and Chris Perry have chosen Fanshawe College as the place for building the skills for new careers.
There can be many reasons for changing careers, among them an evolving job market or a shift in personal goals. And sometimes, life's challenges leave little choice but to take a new direction. Chris Perry's turning point was the result of a workplace accident that left him a paraplegic within a year of graduating with a fish and wildlife studies diploma.
"After taking some time to heal, I was encouraged to go out and pursue a new career," says Mr. Perry, who decided to study accounting since he enjoys practical application, math and problem-solving. With no prior experience in the field, he was particularly interested in a program with a co-op component. "I was hired by Fanshawe College's career services where I worked the front desk greeting students, booking appointments and performing other various clerical duties," he says. "This was my first job since my accident, and it helped me develop the skills I need to be successful and confident in work and life."
Practising skills like strong communication, time management and organization contributed to a foundation from which Mr. Perry completed a Bachelor of Commerce diploma with a 4.1 GPA before transferring into the accounting degree program this summer, he says. "I used these skills every day, and they have reflected on my academic performance."
Darlene O'Neill, senior manager at Fanshawe College's employment and student entrepreneurial services, found Mr. Perry's "ethics, character and commitment to moving forward inspiring," she says. "Chris was having a difficult time getting a co-op, because people sometimes see the [wheel] chair as a barrier, but he was probably one of the most outstanding co-op students we ever had."
And Mr. Perry fit in well with the office's diverse and inclusive environment, explains Ms. O'Neill. "We have a multi-cultural team and a staff member who comes to work with a seeing-eye dog. If we want employers to see the value of hiring people from different backgrounds and cultures, different age groups and levels of ability, we need to model that."
Fanshawe's dedication to student success is reflected in a "wrap-around service," which starts with career planning and advice and leads to "a job tool box" that includes academic credentials plus relevant work experience, says Ms. O'Neill. Ninety-seven per cent of all programs have some type of experiential education embedded, such as co-ops, internship, clinical placements, applied research or entrepreneurial services, she adds. "We have 52 co-op education programs. We also have an incubator where young entrepreneurs work together to develop their businesses."
This comprehensive career services model has been named the best among Canadian post-secondary colleges, says Ms. O'Neill. "We take the time to understand our students' passions and values and work with them to find an academic area that meets their personal preferences. With so much focus on the right fit, retention and graduation rates are high."
Fanshawe ranks first among large Ontario colleges in graduation rate, graduate satisfaction and employer satisfaction – it is also number one in graduate employment, says Ms. O'Neill. Within six months of graduation, 87 per cent of Fanshawe graduates find employment.
These numbers reflect numerous personal success stories, and graduates often benefit from the rapport Fanshawe has developed with industry and employers, who provide feedback that informs curriculum. Jamiel Folland, who earned a scholarship for her achievements as a co-op student at Lerners LLP in London, Ont., chose to attend Fanshawe's law clerk program because "its graduates are considered some of the best in the field," she says. "In fact, Lerners only takes law clerk co-op students from the Fanshawe program."
Ms. Folland was enrolled in a legal program at another college when Mr. Perry, whom she is now married to, had his accident. "I finished the year with a general business certificate, took care of him and worked for a few years," she says. "Since I set my sights on a career [as] a law clerk, I chose Fanshawe because [of its] unparalleled reputation.
"Chris and I had to face an intense life-altering change. It taught us that life isn't always easy," says Ms. Folland. "Honestly, Chris inspires me. Every day, he faces challenge after challenge, but nothing stops him. That's the inspiration I hope someone can take from us: don't be afraid to follow a new path if life takes an unexpected turn."
Mr. Perry also believes that "anything is possible when you put in the time and effort," he says. "At one point, I thought I would probably never return to a work environment or go to school, but I kept pushing forward and have been successful because of that."
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