Natalie

Natalie is a single mother who is in treatment for a psychiatric illness. Life circumstances had Natalie as a young adult moving around continuously with an abusive partner. Her life changed dramatically when she left the relationship to return to single life with her two young sons. With no family support and both boys having learning problems, she learned quickly about the importance of self-reliance and deciding one's own destiny. Natalie deserves praise for the stand she took and her dedication to her sons. Her house is kept immaculate and she takes great pride in keeping it orderly. She works hard and she expects her children to work hard also, particularly because of their learning needs.

Similar to Lynne, Natalie has limited formal education, having dropped out of school in grade 9. She deplores the neighbourhood in which she lives, describing it as a ghetto. She does not feel that it is a proper place to raise her sons because there are too many bad influences. Natalie explains that she knows that work will offer for her the only enduring path out of poverty and she clings to a vision of a very different life that she would like to lead. However, she recognizes that she lacks formal education and specific skills which make it impossible for her to find gainful employment.

Natalie has battled with social workers for support to upgrade her skills so she can remove an obstacle for self-sufficiency. But, according to this participant, she feels that she has been unjustly denied access to programs since the social workers treat her psychiatric problems as impossible barriers. Natalie knows that returning to the workforce would be good for her and she continues to take steps forward in her plan to move on from her current situation by gaining skills through volunteer work with mentally challenged adults in the hopes that this will lead to later employment.