I loved my time in university…taking courses, reading new information, writing papers, and doing presentations. During those years, I had a wide variety of summer jobs to help pay for school and living expenses. I have often said that many of those jobs reminded me of the reason I was going to university in the first place and inspired me to get back to school every fall!

I was grateful for the work and the fact that it allowed me to keep pursuing school each year, but I couldn’t put my finger on why the summer employment was unfulfilling or why I loved going to school so much.

After university, my work (both paid and volunteer) has focused on people, and youth in particular. I have always appreciated having variety in my work and opportunities to connect with individuals and as part of a team. Being involved in preparing for presentations and doing upfront communication have been energizing. I also continued to jump on opportunities to take courses and learn new information. Sometimes those learning experiences related to my work life (like a certificate program in Critical Youth Work) and sometimes they related to a personal interest (like Basic Fitness Instructor). I still did not have a way to explain why I was drawn to the work I did or my interest in taking courses.

About 12 years ago, I had the opportunity to take another course that explored my natural abilities. The course was like nothing I’d ever taken! It provided me with information that finally answered some of those questions I had been wrestling with for years. I learned about my natural ability to work with people in practical ways and that the best ways for me to learn and retain information are through hearing and reading about it. I also discovered a language to explain why some of my jobs during university took longer for me to learn and didn’t feel fulfilling. So many pieces fell into place and it was encouraging to understand more fully what I enjoyed (and didn’t enjoy) in my work life and to be able to communicate that knowledge to others.

That course about natural abilities has been such a benefit to me in understanding myself and how I can be the most efficient in the work I do. It has also been a benefit to teams I work with because when team members learn about their abilities and understand their strengths and challenges, we are able to be more effective in our work together. Also, I have had the opportunity to support many adults and youth as they explore their natural abilities. I have watched those individuals develop more clarity and confidence about the future and become inspired as they become more effective in the work they are doing. 

Developing that understanding and language have made such a difference to me and those I work with!