The Health Care Assistant program was my first time completing a program in Canada. I found it to be an amazing learning experience.  I gained lots of knowledge from the theory. During my lab and clinical, my instructor Josephine explained everything from top to bottom in not only the lab, but the clinical too. 

At that start, I found the clinical to be very challenging. I kept wondering how I would be able to complete the program. However, once Josephine explained everything to us, and showed us physical examples, I found everything very easy. She boosted my confidence a lot! If I didn’t understand something, Josephine was always there to help. Everything went so well in my clinical that I found the preceptorship to be very easy and efficient. I learnt a bunch of new things, and had new experiences.  

After clinical and preceptorship, assistant living was a very different experience for me, compared to long term care. I saw and learned lots of new things. There was a new environment there and I found that to be amazing. Overall, I learnt a lot of new things. I personally think that the Health Care Assistant program allowed me to be a better version of myself. Thanks to Discovery Community College and Josephine for helping me have a start for a new career/life!

 

Hi, my name is name is Enica Sumague. This year, I decided to take a step into the Government Funded Certified Dental Assisting program. When I was first informed about this course, I found it hard to believe that it was free. As a person who was unsure about what I wanted to do as my future career, I took this chance to try something new. 

Throughout the different courses, I struggled with the pace we were learning at first, but with enough effort and work put into my learning alongside the help and support of our teacher, I managed to make it through the courses. I am also grateful for the time we got in our clinic days.  It was enough time for us to learn and practice our skills, allowing us to perform the skills learned in practicum.  It was nice to be able to get a feel of what it was like to work in a dental office.

With friends and and classmates, it was much easier to cope with the struggles I had because they understood what I was going through, they were able to empathize with what I was feeling because they were also going through the same. As this was my first time in college, I really appreciated the Discovery Community College (DCC) staff for being so kind and understanding with anything I needed help with. I found the staff to be approachable, and as introverted person, it helped me open up to them with anything I needed help with. I gained a lot of knowledge about dental health, which will help me throughout my daily life. 

 

Good experience! I got a job opportunity after completing the dental receptionist course.

Neeru is an outstanding student advisor at Discovery Community College. Always approachable and supportive, they provide invaluable guidance and genuinely care about student success. Neeru’s expertise and dedication make navigating academic and personal challenges much easier. Highly recommend!

The staff were all very supportive, caring and compassionate.

Really enjoyed my course and the staff. Fantastic instructor, Student services was fantastic too. Loved the smaller class sizes!

Had a great experience with a fully-funded program through Discovery Community College, and was able to achieve new skill sets through the Medical Dental Applications (MDA) program. Really appreciate the support the staff had to offer, and a shout-out to Marilyn St.Clair, because she’s the best!

A great college with friendly, accommodating and amazing staff who were there while I was finishing the Health Care Assistant (HCA) program.

I recently completed the Government Funded Health Care Assistant program. I am so grateful and honoured that I have been chosen to be part of this funded health care assistant program by the BC Care Providers.  

Before I took this program I worked as a Food service worker at the Comox Valley Hospital. I had the chance to deal with some of our elderly patients at my workplace. I felt bad when they ask me for help but I’m not able to help them cause I’m not trained to do so but now I could do more!  I always felt a deep calling to help others. Until one day, I saw this funded program at my workplace, I tried to apply for it and luckily got a chance to be part of it. At first, I was so unsure to take this program because I have so much stuff on my plate, but I believe if you have the passion and if you really like to do something, you will always find way no matter what. 

I am filled with gratitude for the journey I’ve undertaken and the knowledge I’ve gained. Throughout my studies as a health care assistant, I’ve been privileged to learn from dedicated instructors and compassionate healthcare professionals who have inspired me to strive for excellence in my practice.  

One of the most rewarding aspects of my education has been the hands-on experience gained through clinical and preceptorship placements, where I’ve had the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in real-world healthcare settings. These experiences have not only deepened my understanding of healthcare practices but have also reinforced my passion for making a positive difference in people’s lives. As I embark on this new chapter of my career, I am confident in my ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and am excited to continue learning and growing as a health care aide.