Jenn’s Story

For a decade, Jenn’s life has revolved around being a stay-at-home mom. Despite loving being a mom, over time, she found herself disconnected from the person she was and found herself struggling to see a future. In a relationship that left little room for her own identity and opportunity to socialize, Jenn spent those years focused on caring for others while putting her own goals and aspirations on hold.

“I was a stay-at-home mom… basically no friends, no social connections, very shut in for probably close to a decade,” Jenn explained.

As her kids grew older, she knew she was capable of something more, not just for her future, but for herself. 

The idea of jumping straight into college felt overwhelming. After years away from the classroom and social settings, Jenn wanted to rebuild her confidence and find herself first. She began by earning her GED with SJLE before enrolling in the PowerUp program.

What started as a step towards education quickly became something much bigger. 

Through PowerUp, Jenn had the chance to connect with other women who were navigating their own journeys of growth and change. The program gave her opportunities to volunteer in our community, build confidence, and connect with others. 

“The Jenn back then was very… shut down and didn’t really think of the future much. It was more about, ‘How do I get through today?” Jenn noted. 

As her confidence grew, so did her belief in her future. 

“I was able to start thinking of the future instead of being in survival mode and being like, ‘No, I don’t want to live like this for the rest of my life. I need to do something,” she said. 

Working with SJLE’s Post-Secondary Coach, Janelle, Jenn completed career exploration assessments to identify which industries suited her interests and strengths. One result that surprised her: electronics.

At first glance, it was not the obvious choice, but it made more sense the more she thought about it. 

“My brother got all the cool toys… like electronic kits that I would steal from him and play with. I’ve always been interested in that kind of stuff,” Jenn shared.

With a new sense of purpose and gained confidence, Jenn enrolled in the Electronics Engineering Technology program at NBCC. Not only did Jenn excel at the program, but her hard work and dedication earned her a highly sought-after 14-month co-op placement with a respected employer in the industry. During her placement, Jenn proved herself on the job site, demonstrating technical skills and the desire to learn more. 

Before her co-op was complete, the employer had already offered professional development opportunities to further her skills. From there, Jenn was offered a full-time job with the company.

Jenn’s path wasn’t just about completing her education or finding a career path right away. It was about having the courage to take the first step, rebuilding her confidence, and discovering her strengths that had been there all along.

“My life is very different. I look back at it, and I’m like, ‘I don’t know what happened, I don’t know how it happened,’ but it’s completely different from what it was. I want to show the kids that we can have a better life. We can do better things,” Jenn explained.

From earning her GED to finding meaningful employment, Jenn’s journey is a reminder that growth doesn’t happen all at once. Sometimes it starts with simply saying yes to give yourself a chance.