Quick Escape 
When I received notice that I was being accepted into the Data Science Certificate Program from the University of Guelph, facilitated through the YWCA Hamilton’s Uplift Program, I was elated to say the least.
“I felt a bit like I had just won the lottery, being able to participate in a course that will teach me brand new skills in data science.”
While at the same time, involving myself with an organization whose sole purpose is to change the lives of women, girls and families.
I remember feeling very nervous about this new adventure. It had been a few years since I’d completed my post-secondary education, so some self-doubt came along with thee elation. The excitement I was feeling was enough to tell me, I was on the right track. I would give the course my all. And like other women in my situation, giving it my all meant squeezing it in between family, running a household and holding down a full-time job.
And it wasn’t only me who was giving this course everything. It was every single woman who was alongside me, with their own commitments, worries and dreams. We banded together and became available to help each other out. We began to build our own internal support system among those in the program.
We are now on our way with our new skills, mentors and support. We each have the opportunity and obligation now to pay it forward and uplift someone else, in whatever way that looks to you individually.
To me, this means helping another woman along the way learn all she can to reach her goals too! And it means sharing and growing personally and professionally. I’m happy to say that with this new expertise, I landed a new full-time opportunity. Like I was in March of this year, I am both terrified and excited. And with the right support, I know I will be awesome.