Healthy Communities • Y Stories • YMCA Employment Programs
Navigating the path to a second career: Xia’s story
12 July 2018 - by Yonatan Kiflu
Before arriving at the YMCA of Greater Toronto, Xia Peng was out of work and under stress. She could not see a future for herself because it had been a few years since she left her job. And despite her Travel and Tourism diploma, she couldn’t find work. When friends told her about Ontario’s Second Career program, she was doubtful about the whole thing.
However, that all changed after she registered for a Second Career Information Session at the Richmond Hill Bayview Avenue YMCA Centre. That’s when she met Job Skills Counsellor, Prasad Jayasekera. Prasad encouraged Xia to apply for Second Career, and described others who had succeeded after graduating from their chosen programs.
After starting the application process, Xia found it was easier than she first thought. At the beginning, Xia could not decide whether she should choose the Dental Assistant or Accounting program, as both were of interest. After doing some research, she decided to study Accounting. Prasad thought it would be a better choice to find full-time work, while Xia thought the combination of her accounting diploma plus travel diploma would be a good one.
Prasad and Xia were right: When Xia was hired for her new job, the manager told her that her previous experience and her new knowledge would give her the edge she needed to thrive and be successful in her new role.
“There are many lessons that I learned at the YMCA,” Xia says. “One is the spirit of never giving up; another is that the more skills you learn, the more chances that will be waiting for you.”
Xia’s story is another example of how lives can be transformed thanks to the skills and knowledge she gained while participating in the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s employment programs. To get started on your journey, visit GoToTheY.com.
However, that all changed after she registered for a Second Career Information Session at the Richmond Hill Bayview Avenue YMCA Centre. That’s when she met Job Skills Counsellor, Prasad Jayasekera. Prasad encouraged Xia to apply for Second Career, and described others who had succeeded after graduating from their chosen programs.
After starting the application process, Xia found it was easier than she first thought. At the beginning, Xia could not decide whether she should choose the Dental Assistant or Accounting program, as both were of interest. After doing some research, she decided to study Accounting. Prasad thought it would be a better choice to find full-time work, while Xia thought the combination of her accounting diploma plus travel diploma would be a good one.
Prasad and Xia were right: When Xia was hired for her new job, the manager told her that her previous experience and her new knowledge would give her the edge she needed to thrive and be successful in her new role.
“There are many lessons that I learned at the YMCA,” Xia says. “One is the spirit of never giving up; another is that the more skills you learn, the more chances that will be waiting for you.”
Xia’s story is another example of how lives can be transformed thanks to the skills and knowledge she gained while participating in the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s employment programs. To get started on your journey, visit GoToTheY.com.
