My Place in the Sun

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, and formerly in this blog, I have asked myself this question, “How did I get here?” and again today, only this time a support services Nurse on my bus asked me that.  “So…you have a B.A., right?”  Well, um, yeah, long story, but hey, really,……story interrupted!!

My usual path of job-hunting involves the website  www.jobbank.gc.ca in English, please. And I apply online, using 1 of 3 updated resumes carefully cached on my memory stick. Last year I took a week-long course at the Simcoe branch of Employment Canada, which houses a competent legion of Fanshawe College employees. The outcome: your job search must target only employers you are qualified for and want to work for. If we have attained post-secondary education we do not apply at fast-food joints unless we are applying to be the CEO!

Since graduating with Honours from Mohawk College as an Educational Assistant I have managed to keep all of my employment in the Educational Field. I spent 3 years on the waiting list casual/substitute list as an EA for Grand Erie District School Board, and I worked for 12 months for Summit Learning Centre, based out of Hamilton but working in offices in Brantford and Simcoe. In 2008 I worked for H-N REACH for 3 glorious months for minimum wage as a Facilitator/DSW in a daycare just outside of Hagersville, followed by 3 more months at Summit in Brantford, and then laid-off unemployment that Fall. Jeff encouraged me to go talk to the office at Sharp Bus Lines in Simcoe, because the job includes some involvement with children. I actually agreed, and walked in there to speak to the Manager strait off about being a Bus Aid, which compares to being an Educational Assistant who works with both disabled and behavioural students. They did hire me that very day, however, the deal was to complete the driver training and work as a substitute driver until a suitable/available position opened up. I also continued to hold on to my substitute EA position with Grand Erie. Little did I know that between those two positions I would be working nearly every day until June of 2010 at which point I started working for the LCBO here in town.

In late August Sharp’s called to offer me a permanent driving position on a wheelchair designated bus with a route catering to exceptional students. In addition to 5 wheelchair riders, I have 3 walk-ons (one with leg braces), a Bus Aid who is assigned to the two most delicate handicapped students, and a Nurse from Care Partners who spends her day at the highschool with them. My bus is packed. It is one of the largest ones in the fleet. I love it. I get to use the skills that Sharp’s taught me along with my Educational Assistant training. Even the pay is comparable to being a full-time 6-hour/day EA with Grand Erie, except that I am 4 hrs/day and there are no benefits. So it’s very close, and also there are charters that I can do, taking residents from the nursing care facilities in to town to the Farmer’s Market, or the Fair, or to see the Simcoe Panorama at Christmastime. Also, occasionally, the exceptionalities classes at the highschools need transportation to the local Rec centre for swimming, etc. It’s a great job, never a boring day. The weather and road conditions are usually my only concerns.

But is it my place in the sun? Wasn’t I meant to be a writer? Did I not train to be a writer? Yes. And was I, in fact, employed as a feature writer for several years for various publications? Yes.

Did it pay well? HELL NO!! LOL!! But it was a great experience, however there is no possible way I could support a family of 4 post-divorce, on that.

So, until the next best thing comes along in true form, this is the job for me. It pays the bills and I feel needed, valued, and it’s related to my educational field. So there!

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