Kimberly returned to school because she wanted to succeed at something for the first time in her life. She knew her first step was addressing her drug addiction. Clean and straight for 8 months she has changed her life style and attends meetings regularly. She is also attending after care sessions in anger management. She says she is ready to meet any obstacles and believes taking the time to address her personal barriers was critical before starting school.

Kimberly is interested in woodworking, music, children, sports such as hockey and baseball and Nascar racing. She is planning to complete her upgrading and enroll in Social Services. Ultimately she would like to pursue a career in law enforcement as a police or corrections officer.

Kimberly’s family was initially overwhelmed by her decision, but was convinced it is a positive change which they support. Her home is quiet, and she has an excellent environment for studying and learning. She is confident about tests if she has an opportunity to prepare and is interested in the subject.

Her greatest fears before starting the program were both failing and succeeding, but her first week was positive and encouraging. It gave her the opportunity to realize that she was smarter than she thought. Changing her daily routine was the most difficult task.

Kimberly says’ "I’m a deserving person in society. I can become productive and functional. I can start a career and live life among others." Her teachers say, "Kimberly has started her journey with an open mind and an open heart. She appears prepared and aware of the full load ahead and is ready to accept it. With the support around her, her determination and willingness to try, I believe she will succeed. … Kimberly is such an incredible person and is truly an inspiration. She deserves every happiness, every opportunity and every success that life has to offer."

Shital Patel, Durham

Shital is a 19 year old woman whose immediate family lives in Africa; her aunt in the United States and her uncle in Oshawa. She returned to Canada after an eight year absence. In June 2002, she completed her O and A levels. She was in the final cut for a National Tennis Team and enjoys water polo, basketball and hockey.

Shital returned to school to improve her math skills after reading about the program in the college calendar. She has applied to the Legal Administration Program at Seneca College for January 2003. Ultimately Shital would like to continue in a university law degree program.

She sees her weak math skills as well as OSAP residency guidelines as barriers to entering post secondary. She is starting in LBS 3 math and will have to complete OBS IV by January. She is also concerned about the possibility of not getting into her post secondary program especially in this double cohort year as well as whether her international documents will meet Canadian standards or prove to be a barrier.