8/26/2015 3:37:02 PM
Jean Coffin wanted to make changes in her life and improve her marks from high school, but more importantly she wanted to set up a solid foundation for a career in the business industry. A tall order to be sure for this former Tim Horton’s employee, but by enrolling in the Comprehensive Arts and Science: Transition program through College of the North Atlantic (CNA), the whole process was much less overwhelming.
After making the decision to return to school at the age of 28, the now 35-year-old Mount Pearl native says there was only one school she considered.
“CNA has always been a special place for me. Over the years, even in high school when you have the coordinators come to the school to speak to you, it was a feeling you got from them of what the environment would be like at the college,” she said. “To me that was important. I feel it’s more personalized than say a university, and you really get to enjoy the full experience. It’s more than just the environment, it’s the instructors and everyone is a part of that campus and they make you feel a part of something bigger than yourself. It’s the best decision I ever made.”
Jean, who was living in Buchans near Grand Falls-Windsor, says location factored in her decision on what program to take when it was time to go back to school.
“I wasn’t really doing anything I wanted to be doing. I was working on jobs helping to rebuild different structures in the community. I always knew I wanted to do accounting and I decided it was time to go back to school,” she recalled.
“I thought it was imperative I get back into studying and preparing for exams and things of that nature,” Jean says of her decision to enroll in the CAS Transition program. “It was intimidating to decide to go back to school later on in life, so CAS was a great step to get me back into the groove of preparing for school. I’m very grateful I did that program. It really does help you get organized, and prepare you so you know what the expectations of you are going to be before you enter your program of choice.”
According to Jean, the best way to explain CAS Transition is as a program that provides you with a solid foundation for future success.
“It really does help you to become more organized and for managing your time. It’s a great first step to get back into the post-secondary environment. Especially if you’re full-time and you’re doing five courses, you really do need those time management skills. I think I would have been absolutely lost without that program.”
Even if you’re right out of high school and you just want to improve your marks, Jean highly recommends the CAS program as a starting point.
“It has so many benefits, both personally and professionally. It really does prepare you for when you do go into the program of your choice. I think it should be mandatory because you can’t get that kind of experience or knowledge anywhere else other than learning it yourself through that program.”
Jean graduated from the CAS Transition program in 2009 and went directly into the three-year Business Administration (Accounting) program.
“The business program was amazing. I absolutely loved it. It was a challenge, but it was a good challenge. It helps push you so you realize things about yourself that you probably didn’t even realize,” Jean said.
Jean now lives in Avondale, just 40 minutes outside of St. John’s where she is gainfully employed at Worley Parsons Oil and Gas in Mount Pearl as an accounting clerk.
“I’ve been progressing quite rapidly. I went to one position where I was a an administrative assistant for 10 months and now I’m a project accounting clerk, so I’m doing quite well,” she said.
“I’m on my way to getting my degree which I start in September. I’m going to work full-time and study part-time. That’s where the time management skills from CAS come in handy for later on down the road, especially if you want to advance in your career. The skills you learn are so valuable. It’s hard to put into words like you really almost have to experience it yourself to understand it.”
-30-
Media Contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca