Milestones can be more than just markers on our life's timeline. They can inspire reflection and encourage us to consider where we are and where we want to go. For Amanda, her upcoming 30th birthday started that process.
Working in a dental office, Amanda knew this wasn't how she envisioned spending the next decade.
"I doubted I could go to college," Amanda admits. "And as I neared the end of my twenties, I didn't want that regret to follow me into my thirties." Living in Hamilton, the first stop on her journey was Mohawk College.
“I've heard so many people that have gone to Mohawk and have had successful jobs right from it,” Amanda says “It was kind of a no brainer for me.”
Amanda had always enjoyed working with children and participating in dance, so looked for careers that would allow her to do something like that. She reached out to the Outreach and Education Advising team to learn more about different Mohawk College programs to find out which one would be a good fit.
"They were incredibly helpful in asking questions like, 'what are you interested in?' and 'what are you looking for?',” Amanda recalls. “Sometimes, you don't know exactly what you want to do, and it's great to talk to someone who can explain the different paths to get there.”
With the support of Mohawk College staff, Amanda eventually decided on the Recreation Therapy program. She was excited at the prospect of using leisure as a tool to help people of all ability levels make the most of their lives.
Along with having questions about which program to choose and how to apply to it, Amanda also needed to learn about how to pay for college and where to go on campus once she got there. Mohawk staff continued to support her throughout all of this.
“As soon as you pick up a phone, you literally immediately get passed in the right direction and talk with people that genuinely care,” Amanda says. “They have staff in place that are set up to make sure you succeed.”
The support continued once she met the faculty in the Recreation Therapy program. It didn't take long for Amanda to realize that she made one of the best decisions of her life. "‘Do you need any help?’ ‘Do you want to chat about the program before you start?’,” Amanda remembers the faculty asking her. “Every single one of the faculty members I had, including Joanne Brohman, Tracy Hopkins, Monica Almas and Naritta Divjak, were mentors to me and made a significant difference in my life."
Amanda worked hard to succeed over the two years of her program. She was excited to do homework because she was working towards a career she was passionate about. She found confidence she never had before. This resulted her in taking another huge leap in her academic and career journey towards something that she never thought was an option for her.
The Recreation Therapy program at Mohawk College has an articulation agreement with Brock University to enter their Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies program. A representative from Brock University came to Amanda’s classroom to speak about this opportunity.
"After two years at Mohawk, everyone was hyping me up and my teachers were such cheerleaders, constantly telling me I could do it,” Amanda recalls. “It built my confidence so much that I finally thought, 'maybe I should'."
And Amanda did, beginning the Brock University Recreation and Leisure Studies program in September 2024.
Amanda now lives a life that only a few short years ago she didn’t think was possible. After everything, Amanda realized that the biggest challenge had been herself.
"I was my biggest barrier,” Amanda states. “My lack of self-confidence and fear to believe that I could accomplish this was a challenge. I had to keep trusting myself, reaching out for help and support, and staying positive.”
Change can be intimidating, but Amanda's advice is simple: "Just do it scared. You never know what could happen. Now, looking back on the amazing results and forward to the future, I'll never say no again."
