���ճԹ�51

For Nora, the biggest challenge she faced was “what was going on inside my own head. I had a lot of things happen in a short period of time that were a big blow to my self-confidence,” she says. “I had to go on disability for the first time in years, I got laid off shortly after I returned to work and I was having a very difficult time finding work.”

Nora started to think things weren’t going to work our no matter what she did.

Nora has , which causes chronic pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. “If I try to do too much activity in a day it makes the pain worse,” she says. “I also have a vision problem that affects my depth perception so I cannot get a driver’s license.”

Nora had been looking for work during the summer of 2014 when she joined the ��Employ-Ability Program in Kelowna, British Columbia. “I wanted help to figure out what type of job I wanted to do and help with my job search. I thought my resume was pretty good but I knew it could be better.” Nora had been working for a non-profit for several years but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to stay in that area. “My main goal was to find a job that would be satisfying for me,” says Nora. “This process has helped me realize that I have a lot to contribute to the work force. It also helped me realize that I would like to go back to school at some point.”

“I am very glad I went through the Employ-Ability program at the ���ճԹ�51,” she says. “It helped me realize what my strengths and interests are, and it helped me improve my self-confidence. I have a clearer picture now of what I want to do with my life and my career. The staff were very helpful and friendly. They were always willing to answer questions and give feedback at every stage of the process.”

Nora is still looking for opportunities, either work or volunteer. But her new found confidence is keeping her active. “I’m currently in the hiring pool for a government job and I’m applying for other jobs as well. I’ve also applied for grad school in the fall and am waiting to hear if my application was accepted. A friend and I have also started the application process to start a here in Kelowna. In the meantime, I am volunteering with the and I have an interview tomorrow for a volunteer position with the ,” shares Nora.

April 28th Update: We just heard some great news from Nora — she has landed a full time position at Passport Canada as a Pre-Examination Clerk. Congratulations, Nora, we couldn’t be happier for you!