I graduated from the 3 Year Sheet Metal Course at the Halifax County Vocational High School, 1825 Bell Road, Halifax in 1954. I spent 12 years in the industry doing sheet metal work. I was hired in 1966 to teach the Sheet Metal course, with my former teacher Mr. Louis Deal, at the Halifax Regional Vocation School, 1825 Bell Road, Halifax. I moved to the Guidance Office in 1978 as a Student Personal Officer. I retired from the NSCC Halifax Campus, 1825 Bell Road, Halifax in 1994. One great school - Three name changes - I was so priviledged to be a part of it.
Tom Hickey

My name is Nancy Williams and I am 46 years of age. To start a new career at this time in my life is scary. I’ve always found school hard and worked hard but was lucky to get a pass mark. Please always remember that at NSCC they are there to help you with whatever you need. NSCC offers great assistance in many different areas. So here is my story. I was an Educational Assistant with Annapolis Valley School Board. My husband got laid off after 24 years of working in the same place. I was not getting much work. So I decided to look into taking the CCA Course through NSCC. I got accepted and the first week there was a person Cheyenna Scott-Banks who told us about the help NSCC offers to the student with disabilities with reading and apprehension. I finally had the nerve to speak up for the first time ever and admit I had a disability. I was not sure that I would be capable of doing this course. I have been seeing a psychologist for a long time and she did testing to prove to me that I am not stupid. She has been counseling me, and told me that I could do whatever I set my mind to do. Those words are easier said than done. Because of my disability I was able to have a proctor for all my exams. The Proctor would read the exam to me if I needed it. My big thing is that there was not enough time to finish the exam. With having the Proctor I was allowed more time to finish the exam. I cannot read and apprehend the sentence in the time allotted for writing the exam. I had to study hard and do my homework right up so it would be done. My worst mark was 79%. My lowest mark in the course was 85%. To say this course was easy it was not. I had my Husband Dave and good friends by my side and help from Cheyenne when I needed direction. Also my psychologist Sheila Bower¬¬-Jacquard helping along the way telling me I can do this. I would like to move on and take the LPN Course. Just remember that you’re not along in whatever you do and you CAN do whatever you put your mind to do. Good Luck to all.

I started in the Culinary Arts program but after getting ill for a while I could not go back. So I picked up a course book I saw the Office Administration course and said oh that looks good. So I signed up and it is great. I have had so much fun in the course and have learned some many different things that I never knew before. My time at NSCC has been the best and I would tell anyone who is thinking of the course or of going to NSCC it is a very good school.

Evan
Office Administration

My name is Kassondra Walters and I graduated from NSCC's International Business program in 2008. I loved my educational experience with NSCC and highly recommend this program for anyone considering a business career, international or domestic.

I enrolled in NSCC's 2 year, Business Administration program in 2005, six years after graduating from high school and after leaving a full time position as a retail store manager. It was a drastic financial adjustment, but I knew it was the right choice for my career and quality of life. After the first semester I had to choose my concentration for my second year and I chose the International Business Advanced Diploma program. Choosing this concentration meant two more years of studies before I would graduate instead of one additional year to complete the Business Administration program. It also meant traveling to the Truro campus for classes, because this program is only offered at the Truro campus.

I didn't own a car and I lived in downtown Halifax, but I knew that this program was right for me and I wasn't going to let that stop me! I enrolled in the International Business program and bought a car so that I could travel to Truro and back every day for class. That way, I could continue to work my PT job to help pay the bills. It was totally worth it!

I learned about business from a global perspective; international marketing, market entry strategies, trade research, logistics, culture etc. All of which I knew would make me a more valuable asset to my future employer, whether I worked for an international or domestic business. Boy, was I right!

As part of this program, I completed a four month internship, the last four months of the program. I completed my internship with a local Nova Scotia company which has international business operations, Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd. Today, I am still working with Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd. in an international sales role.

I am confident that NSCC's International Business program and faculty, provided me with the tools and resources to launch my career and to become a success! I am so thankful that I chose this path and very proud of myself. I'm excited to see what the future brings!

If you are interested in a business career, I encourage you to look into NSCC's International Business program, you'll be glad that you did!

Cheers,
Kassondra

Getting back into the learning environment and mindset has definitely been a challenge. I have been out of school since having attended NSCC Pictou Campus in 1991. At that point in time, I had taked the Electrical Construction Program and had earned my diploma. Due to tough economic times after my graduation, I had never been employed in that field and had started a career in the construction supply industry. My training in Electrical Construction had definitely given me a helping hand in having been successful in my career. I spent fourteen years in the supply industry, working at all levels including management and having run my own supply shop and training employees that had gone on to successful careers. I had been laid off in March of 2009 due to a major slow-down in the construction sector and took that opportunity to re-educate myself. I explored a few options and had since enrolled in the Environmental Engineering Water Resources Program at the Waterfront Campus in Dartmouth. My experience at NSCC (the second time around) is definitely rewarding and getting back to learning is a great challenge. There are a lot of cobwebs that had to be cleared out and it is not an easy task having been out of school for such a long time. For those that have only been out of school for a short period of time or that have never left the learning environment, in my opinion, the challenge is still present but it is a much steeper hill to climb for someone in my situation (along with raising a child and supporting a family and all the responsibilities that follow). I am really enjoying being back in the educational mindset and look forward to the challenges that the rest of the program has to offer. I believe there is a very bright future in the area of Water Resources and I feel that I have made a great choice for a career path to take. Eventually, I would like to move on and earn a full Engineering Degree. If there is one thing that I have learned that in life,is that learning never stops.