TESTIMONIALS

Antonio E., 2005

I was a shipper receiver for an abrasive company. My family doctor said, "Look if you continue this line of work, you'll be in a wheelchair by the time you're 40." That kind of "light bulb" I said okay, I have two young girls. I want to be able to play with my kids. She just laid it straight out. She said daddy you need to change your work. You need to do something so you don't get hurt all the time. They want to play with their dad. Well, I got to turn them down because my back's bothering me.

It built up to a point where I said that's it, I gotta put my foot down. Being out of school for so many years--14 years-I was nervous. I wasn't sure I'd do as well as when I was younger. They thought it was kind of cool that I was going to school that their dad is going to school at the same time. They ask me so what's you're school like dad. Do you get a recess? I'm very proud of myself. My friends and family are very proud of me. They knew I could do it. I can go in any direction now. The position that I have now is like day and night. There is so much opportunity now. The future looks great.

Jackie G., 2003

I really wanted direction. You don't really get that from courses in universities. For me, why waste my time here when I know what I want to do. I definitely wanted to get in and get out. Our college of massage therapists-they've impacted me. And I've learned things from them that I'm sure I wouldn't have learned. It was directed and focused-and I was just so fortunate because we had great teachers. It clicks . . . like you get it instantly as opposed to reading a book five times over. And I guess the thing I like the most is the small class sizes.

I really felt that if there were like 10 of us in a class-then wow-the teacher can really give you the time of day. You can go there--get a career-get educated. When I wake up now, I want to come to work. I'm my own boss. I dictate how much or how little I want to work. At the end of the day, I'm glad that I helped people. And I'm not dreading the next day. You'll feel really liberated and you'll have a skill that you can take with you the rest of your life.

Elyse C. 2006

Big difference. A job just pays the bills. A career is something I feel that you love to do. I just never thought I had what it took. I was so used to doing my job in the grocery store. I worked in a beauty supply store. I worked in a dollar store. I figured okay, I don't want to work in a grocery store for the rest of my life. I needed to get back to school. I needed to get it done fast.

I didn't take as single class unrelated to business. There was tons of things that I could have done with my diploma. I was very well prepared. I work for an insurance brokerage. And now I'm here and I'm doing it. I feel a lot more mature. A lot more confident. Like for once in my life I've accomplished something. I feel happy. Success to me is take a picture and put it in the dictionary. I'm conquering the world. I'm going to take it over.

Beau J., 2004

Technology was my passion ever since I was a kid. That's really where I wanted to end up. You can go in there really not knowing anything about computers. Because of the smaller classes you have that attention. You feel like a person. It made you feel relaxed-and not hesitant to ask any questions. They make you feel confident as well. Great people. Great environment. You learn at your own pace. You get the hands-on experience you need for your future career. When you've already graduated, they help you find a career. And they don't stop.

Without them I wouldn't be here right now. They definitely opened up the doors of opportunity for me. I love going to work. I love the people I work with. I can see myself being in I.T. for the rest of my life.

Tom S., 2006

There was a time and place in my life where I was trying to find myself. I felt that I was stagnant at that point. I went to school-went back to school to kind of upgrade my education. I wanted to learn from people that actually have experience in the corporate world.

Building the relationship with these teachers was quite easy because that's what they were there for to kind of answer any question that I had. There was no time wasted when I was there. All of the time was focused on me because I wanted it to be. With meeting and going through the courses with these teachers it kind of gave me an overall feel of what it's going to be like when I actually graduate.

They focus on key areas for business purposes only. And they gave me the hands on experience to know what to do. The kind of experience needed to get into the corporate environment. They gave me all the tools I needed to relate to the field I'm in today. They taught me how to become a business man today. You're going to get the knowledge that you need to become what you want.

Lauren J., 2006

My admissions rep was very helpful. She actually called me one day and she told me, "you have to get down here right now because we're doing a bursary program, and I want you to try to get this. And I actually ended up getting it in like 10 minutes. I was wanted at the school. I wasn't like another body. My teacher wanted us to succeed. Everybody is putting investment into everybody.

The girl I was working with-she taught me how to use the database. She taught me how to enter new briefs. She taught me how to close briefs. In the legal field, you have to be very meticulous with your work. And because I new a lot it helped me get hired on. I'm making like three times as much as what I was making before. That's why I chose the program-I could be a paralegal. I could be a legal assistant. I could have my own paralegal firm. My whole family is really happy for me. They're really glad that I've had this kind of opportunity.

Juliana G., 2006

I thought there should be some place that has to do with business, but isn't too long. I was in the subway reading the newspaper and I saw the ad-and I called in. When I went there they explained the process and said they'd give me the meat of what I needed. A big thing is that all the teachers had experience in the area. They worked before there. The classes were more like a conversation.

There were a lot of case studies where there were examples. And I think that's the best way to learn. Because now that I'm in the workforce, I can relate to a lot of the case studies we learned in class. I'm the kind of person that believes that the only way to learn and grow is with experience. When I got my first paycheck it was like . . . Wow! They say that I have a lot to give-that I have a lot of skills. To see that they see good qualities in me and skills. It's really important to me. And it boosts me up.

Krystle A. 2006

I've always liked the health care field. I think that's different in a career if you can really make more of an impact than just maybe a regular, everyday job. Their approach was trying to teach people to learn in different ways. You're excited to be there. You want to be there. You want to learn. You want to get into your career. You don't feel like you're learning a bunch of extra stuff that doesn't really apply to what you're doing. You get to have hands-on experience. I really like that part. They had all the tools there. I think that helped with preparation as well.

Class sizes were smaller . . . more one on one training. It was flexible depending on what we wanted. What we wanted from the teacher. They're really there to help you. They care about where you're going. What you're final goals are. Since it is shorter-it's acclerated-you can get into the workforce faster. I can set up for a lot more goals-instead of school still being my goal. I definitely feel more secure which is important to me-and I feel like I have more direction. It's opened up a whole new door. Now I have a career. I know where I'm going, and I see growth and potential and so I love it.

Glen M., 2004

The more time you spend in school is the less time you're spending making money in your field. I found that I got what I wanted, I got it in a fast time. He really new the field and he really knew what he was talking about. He wasn't just reading out of a book. I had a really good time going there.

They have an employment specialist in the college who receives calls from her contacts on a daily basis. She passes that information along to the students who are about to graduate and to the students who have graduated already.

Life since, has been fantastic for me. It was good to finally get a good, decent pay check for once. I've gotten married, bought a house, had a child. My life is definitely on its way. You know what I mean? I am definitely moving in the right direction.

Giselle S., 2006

I'm not a person that can sit at a computer desk and type all day. I hated it. I knew I couldn't do that forever either. I needed to do something more. I needed to get my career in place. I needed to get a new education. And I needed to do something in demand. Something fast. Something that was effective. Why go to a university or a regular community college for four to five years when you can do everything in a short period of time.

I'm not a book person at all. I need to do things hands on. You're going in there and you're actually doing it. You do straightforward work to what you want to do. It was hands-on. I could do everything that I learned. And my teacher was right there. Everybody is there for the same reason. Everybody is there to get a career. I got financial assistance. I didn't have to worry-went to my classes. I met a lot of amazing people there too. It was an amazing experience. It showed me everything that I needed to know before I landed this amazing job.

I love it. I love doing what I do. My parents are so proud of me because this is what they wanted. Build your career. Build your future. You have nothing to lose, you only have to gain. If I can do it, anybody else can do it.