Our Northern Lights is a platform that showcases our people, their stories, and celebrates their achievements. We hope that their journey will inspire others to pursue their dreams and make a difference in the world.
When Ntomo (who also goes by Irene) was growing up in Nigeria, she never imagined herself sitting in a hockey rink in Canada watching her oldest child playing hockey – in fact, she didn’t even know what hockey was! She had also never heard of Dawson Creek, but she did know that she wanted to spend her life helping people, which is how she became a student in our Social Services Diploma Program.
She thought she would become a nurse like her mother, but soon learned that blood and needles weren’t for her. Her first education journey at NLC was in the ECE program and it seemed like fate.
“I was made to do that program because the day I got my admission letter was the day I had my first child. Everything I was learning and all the HDEC (Human Development) courses – I was firsthand experiencing it with my little guy.”
While going to school, Ntomo was also running a daycare out of her home. When asked about the struggle of raising children, working, and going to school she was quick to explain how much support she had when completing projects and handing in her assignments.
“It was really strange to me at first, but [the instructors] were so understanding. I had all my babies and even in this social work program too. I just sent them an email they’re like, yeah, no problem. You catch up when you come back and it’s just such an easy process that I don’t think I have really struggled.”
She completed the ECE program in 2021. Then, as her family outgrew the at-home daycare, Ntomo knew she wanted to continue helping people but in a different capacity. To learn more about Ntomo, read on:
Why did you choose your program?
I had people, friends who always for some reason used to come to me for advice. And I mean my life has not been perfect or anything. But I always found that I gave really good advice and I’m a very good listener too. I told my husband I wanted to go into counseling, and I didn’t know what how the best route to go because it has to be in Dawson. I spoke with Tammy, a career advisor, and she gave me routes in social work. There was a questionnaire and I was feeling like everything just leads me to social work. It’s just who I am.
I feel like I’m sharing my knowledge with people and just helping them through crisis or difficulties. Just helping them navigate their lives is something that I really have a passion to do.
What has been the best part of your program?
I like sharing with people the knowledge I have and I’m learning from people too. It’s still a new culture for me. It’s not where I was from or where I was brought up. I feel like I’m sharing my knowledge with people and just helping them through crisis or difficulties. Just helping them navigate their lives is something that I really have a passion to do.
What is your superpower?
Being able to multitask.
What is your first NLC memory?
Entering my first PSYC class and saying to myself, “this is where I want to be!”