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Good evening everyone, ladies and gentlemen. I came prepared because I didn't want to forget
anything. I'm deeply honoured for the opportunity to share my experience today. When I came
to Canada three years ago, integrating into the Canadian corporate environment was a big
challenge. I looked for jobs in different sectors unsuccessfully, while the feedback
I got was that I didn't have Canadian experience. But on this fateful day on the ttc bus I looked
through the metro newspaper then I saw the advertisement for the bridging program. I
looked at it and I thought it was an opportunity to have a Canadian education. So I enrolled
in the Bridging Program and I took all the recommended courses. All while doing this,
I was still searching for a job. Honestly, there were times I just wanted to give up
the program, and there were so many personal challenges at home, I lost my mother during
the program, and the harsh winter semester lectures, and also sleepless nights trying to complete
Marlene's course. So this is some of the stress I went through, lost my mom, looking for a
job, trying to just complete the program all at the same time. I was ready to settle for
any survival job and abandon the program, honestly, but thank God I did not, I kept
pushing myself despite all personal challenges. Through the IEP program, I gained more knowledge
of the Canadian context of communication or business. The ethics, the management style,
and of course, I took courses in the public services and I got to know more about the
Canadian governmental system. Well, it also looked good on my resume, that I had Canadian
education. I developed more confidence and more insight about the Canadian system. Well,
as professionals from different countries of origin with years of experience in our
specific fields, we might ignore job opportunities when it presents itself because we want a
particular job and sometimes the Canadian employment market remains unpredictable and
I told myself the first thing to do is to put my leg in the door. So when the opportunity
presented itself and I saw the opening for a job at TD, I felt very confident and well
prepared to apply for the job. I went for the interview and I must tell you that my
manager that interviewed me was impressed with my resume and was surprised that I was
already enrolled in a Canadian university Bridging Program. She asked me questions about
my program and the benefits and why I was taking it, and honestly the intervew just
went in different directions but I'm happy today that I'm currently employed with TD
as a support service associate, but the beautiful thing is that there are huge opportunities
to actually move within the financial group. As a public policy graduate, I am already
involved with so many initiatives within the community services and programs. The Bridging
program's mentorship, career coaching, and resume solutions sessions all contributed
to my success story, and I'd like to use this opportunity to thank all the IEP bridging
program staff, all my program lecturers, my faculty champion, I'm not sure if he's here,
Professor Peter Constantinou, for their support and encouragement during my very difficult
times. I would also like to thank my husband, especially for his help throughout the program
because there were times I had to force him to leave work early to drop me off during
the winter season and for motivating me throughout the program. Thank you everyone. and to all
current and prospective IEP Bridging Program students, I encourage you to make the most
of this opportunity.Network with each other, because more Canadian employers reward referrals.
Make friends and always remain positive, remain focused and be determined to succeed even
in the face of frustrations and adversities. I wish you all the best. See you at the top.
Thank you.