Finding Her Calling: Janessa’s Journey from NCC Student to Northwood Employee

When Janessa started thinking about her future, she knew she wanted to work in healthcare. What she didn’t know was where she belonged.

“I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do” she said. “I was very, very lost”

That uncertainty changed when she discovered Northwood Career College (NCC) and its Continuing Care Assistant program.

Today at 20 years old, Janessa is a CCA with Northwood and a graduate of NCC. Looking back, she says the experience helped her find more than a career path.

“I kind of found my calling in a sense.”

Finding the right fit

Janessa had always been interested in the medical field, but the range of career options made it difficult to know where to begin.

She first heard about the CCA program through family and friends and was drawn to the opportunity to work with older adults.

“I’ve always loved working with elders and children,” she said. “Learning how to be their arms and legs and doing things they struggle to or can’t do really spoke to me”

Northwood was already familiar to Janessa. Several family members and friends worked with the organization, and when she learned Northwood offered its own CCA Program, she was ecstatic.

The shorter program length and smaller class sizes were also an important factor in her decision.

Feeling supported along the way

For Janessa, her experience at NCC was about more than learning the skills needed to become a CCA. She also found a strong sense of support and community throughout the program.

The smaller class environment gave her the opportunity to build relationships with her instructors and classmates, ask questions and receive one-on-one support when she needed it.

She appreciated having instructors who were flexible with different learning styles and understood that students learn in different ways. That support helped Janessa become more comfortable, build confidence and learn in a way that worked for her.

She also formed close friendships with her classmates, connections that have continued even as they moved into different roles and locations within Northwood.

Looking back, Janessa says one of the biggest things NCC gave her was the opportunity to feel comfortable being herself.

“The biggest thing NCC gave me was the opportunity to be myself and work in my own way,” she said.

That sense of support became an important part of her journey and helped Janessa realize she had found a place where she belonged.

Learning by doing

Hands-on learning was another part of NCC that stood out to Janessa.

Throughout the program, students took part in labs using mannequins and practised full care routines before entering their placements. They also learned about documentation, a skill Janessa says she uses every day in her role.

“I’ve been complimented on my documentation skills,” she said. “So that time spent was very beneficial.”

Students also had opportunities to learn within Northwood facilities, giving them a chance to see what the environment was like beyond the classroom.

For Janessa, that practical experience helped make the transition into her career feel more familiar. She wasn’t just learning from a textbook. She was developing skills and getting a better understanding of what it would be like to work in a continuing care environment.

From student to employee

As Janessa moved through the program, she began to see how her NCC experience could lead into a career with Northwood.

After completing her skills development placement, students had the opportunity to pursue casual employment with Northwood. For Janessa and her classmates, that created a clear connection between what they were learning in the classroom and what could come next.

Making the transition from student to CCA was still a big step.

“I was very nerve-wracking personally, but exhilarating at the same time,” Janessa said.

Moving into a real care setting meant making decisions independently and putting the skills she had learned into practice. While nurses and other CCAs were there to support her, Janessa had to begin building confidence in her own judgment and abilities.

That transition was made easier by the familiarity of the environment around her. As an NCC student, Janessa had already learned and practised in Northwood facilities, so stepping into her role as a CCA meant entering a workplace she had begun to know. She was surrounded by familiar faces and a team that understood the foundation she had built through NCC.

Over time, that confidence grew.

For Janessa, starting her career became a particularly meaningful accomplishment after struggling with school in the past.

“It was a very big accomplishment for me,” she said. “Coming into this, it’s like I kind of found my calling in a sense.”

A career built around people

Janessa says one of the things she values most about being a CCA is the opportunity to get to know the people she supports.

The role goes far beyond helping with daily routines. CCAs spend significant time with residents and clients, allowing them to build relationships, understand individual needs and notice changes that may be important to share with the broader care team.

For Janessa, that means being patient, listening and taking the time to understand the person in front of her.

She knows a career in continuing care can be both mentally and physically demanding. It requires patience, understanding and a genuine desire to support others.

But for her, the challenges have been part of discovering work that feels meaningful.

Looking ahead

Janessa hopes to continue building her career in health care and eventually pursue further education in nursing.

For now, she is proud of the path that brought her to Northwood and grateful for the experience she had at NCC.

Her advice to someone considering the program is simple: don’t let the uncertainty hold you back.

“Don’t stress yourself out about it, because it’s not as scary as you think it’s going to be.”

For Janessa, taking that first step helped turn a time when she felt lost into the beginning of a career, she can see herself growing in.

Start Your Journey at NCC

Janessa’s story is one example of where a career in continuing care can begin.

Northwood Career College’s Continuing Care Assistant program combines classroom learning, hands-on training and practical experience to help prepare students for a career supporting people in continuing care.

Ready to take the next step?

Explore the CCA program at Northwood Career College to learn more about the program, admission requirements and how to apply.