National Adult Literacy Database

September 6, 2010

This week, our story comes to us from New Brunswick. The author, Lisa Porter, is from Saint John, New Brunswick. Lisa is involved in a project entitled TIES 2 Work, which facilitates matches between employers and potential employees through 12 weeks of job-specific, essential-skills training, and results in long-term employment. She is doing workplace essential skills training at Saint John Learning Exchange.

Story

by Lisa Porter

After finishing the TIES 2 Work program and finding out I did not get to continue working at the job placement, I was initially very frustrated and disappointed. I then went through a range of emotions quite quickly from angry.... well, maybe just angry, but I take great comfort in knowing that I have all of the wonderful people from TIES backing me up and helping me to figure out the next steps from here.

I feel that in this case the employer did not take the time to fully understand what the program was about and how it would impact the business.

If I hadn't been in the program I wouldn't have been able to accomplish moving, finding daycare and balancing work with life changes, at all. They have been vital in organizing my thoughts so that I was not overwhelmed with the changes going on. Without that I wouldn't have known where to start.

So despite the minor setback, the program was still a success for me because I am further ahead now than when I started, even without a job.

[This story was taken with permission, from TIES 2 Work - The First Year, page 17, published by Saint John Learning Exchange.]