Deziree Goltz – Health Care Assistant – Surrey

“I’ve known I had wanted to take the Health Care Aide program since I was a young teen, so when I heard about the opportunity through Kindale community futures and funding from the Community Workforce Response Grant, I took it. When I enrolled, my goal was to be able to work one on one with seniors and educate myself better on how I can best support them. I have been working with seniors for years, and while I am passionate about this field, I felt like I wanted to gain further experience and knowledge, so that I could better support the seniors in our community.

Before going to school, I was doing private work as a community support worker and care aide, as well as working in a senior’s home assisting with housekeeping, meal times, and recreational activities. I needed to be more confident in myself, as I struggled with low self esteem. I was also painfully shy, struggled using my voice, and didn’t know how to properly vouch for others. I overcame this, as I came to the realization that my patients feed from the energy that we give, and so I wanted to be able to give them the best version of myself. Being in a school program really helped me overcome these barriers, as I learned how to be not only more confident and use my voice, but also meet every situation and individual with empathy and compassion, regardless of the situation.

While I am very grateful for Discovery Community College for giving me the opportunity to do my dream job, the overall experience put a lot of extra stress and anxiety in my life, as I did not feel like I was given the proper accommodations or supports I needed. As a result of this, I felt like I was at a disadvantage from my classmates and felt as though I did not always receive a fair grade.

Overall, I am most proud of how I came out of this course stronger, and with the ability to reflect on how much I’ve grown. Whether you have a learning disability, or various trauma, you are still capable of completing this course, going to school, and having a purpose. You may face difficult times in school, but in the end, those difficult moments are where you find your strength.

Thank you to everyone involved in helping me succeed.”