Moving every couple years, mostly back and forth between London and St. Thomas, allowed me the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people. I started working when I was fifteen years old, and in the last three years, I’ve had four different jobs. For a year and a half, I even worked two jobs at the same time while attending high school. Having many different jobs and going to different schools has taught me a lot about people and how I enjoy spending my time. Even having had four different jobs, none of them felt like a community, family, or even an environment that I truly enjoyed working in. That is until I started working as a summer student at the Elgin Business Resource Centre (EBRC).

I have only been here a short period of time, but already I know this is one of the places that people are able to call home.

Not having worked in an office, I decided I wanted to work in an office as I will be attending Fanshawe College for business and accounting. I wanted to understand what I was getting into and how my life would look if I ended up working in an office with my career. The amazing ladies, plus Kevin, here at EBRC have taught me lots of things. For example, I grew up here in St. Thomas, however, it seems that I know barely anything about it. I learn something new every day and the businesses that wouldn’t be here if the Elgin Business Resource Centre did not exist. For example, MC Business Technology Consulting, which is a cyber security company that helps people all over Canada, credits his 11-year business to EBRC and has been a tenant in the building since 2016.

The way the Elgin Business Resource Centre is committed to helping their clients puts me in awe.

The staff here are always trying to find new ways to make this company better and more efficient. They go on road trips trying to connect with different businesses all throughout Elgin County. They are consistently dedicated to their work and making St. Thomas and Elgin County the best it can be.

For me, this has been a major transition from the things that I am used to, in the best way possible. This job challenges me to step out of my comfort zone and think about things logically, instead of emotionally. If someone had asked me to write an article about myself/journey two months ago, it would have been a hard no. I would be focused on thinking how lots of people will be reading this and possibly even judging me. That scares me a lot, but here I am because even though I haven’t been here long, this job and work environment has helped me realize that in order to achieve the goals you have set for yourself and create the life you wish to have, you must to be willing to put yourself out there and be the best, most confident version of yourself.

I am looking forward to the rest of the summer spent here at EBRC.