Jennifer U’Chong: 25 years of service in her own words

My name is Jennifer U’Chong, and I started working in the Employment and Life Skills Training Program (ELST) in the Academic and Career Preparation Faculty at Vancouver Island University in September 1997. In 2012, the ELST Program revamped to address the needs of our students, and the program transitioned into the Workplace Essential Skills and Training Program (WEST).  The WEST Program has developed into a well respected program in our community, which continues to be well subscribed annually. One of my career’s accomplishments has been the continued success of this program, and I am proud to have been part of the team that was instrumental in helping the changeover from ELST to WEST.

As a trainer in this program, I find my job to be uniquely complex, varied and fun, requiring flexibility, an open mind, and readiness for whatever comes my way each day. Training groups of students in community locations and setting up individual work experiences for students are a big portion of my job. I am also the coordinator for trainers at our three campuses, responsible for hiring, onboarding, and training the new hires.

Looking for appropriate training and work experience locations is another part of my job. I am glad to say that Nanaimo and surrounding communities have been very open and keen in supporting our students. As a result, I have been able to acquire over 70 community partners, spanning from Ladysmith to Parksville!

One of the best things about working in the WEST program is the opportunity to work with such a diversified student body who come to me at first shy and uncertain about university life, but soon become enthusiastic learners. Over the years, I have learned as much from my students as they have learned from me, and I have been inspired by their resilience, patience, compassion, kindness, flexibility, persistence, and commitment. Together, we practice and hone these skills and attributes.

Teaching in a variety of environments within the community is another highlight of my job.  When one thinks of teaching, one always thinks of temperature-controlled classrooms, comfortable seating and no noise. Not my job; I am usually teaching in an environment where background music, noise and lots of people are the norm. And every three months I change locations, enjoying the challenge of adapting to the location and all that it offers.

Working with an incredible team of supportive and helpful colleagues has also been a great experience. Without their support, I would not have been able to work at VIU for so many years or accomplish what I have so far.  

In order to better serve my students, I have undertaken various initiatives. For example, I secured funding from my union and became a certified fitness trainer, incorporating regular physical fitness classes into my teaching to help my students build stamina and endurance. I also introduced breathwork and meditation as stress and anxiety management techniques.

Furthermore, I recognized that my students needed training in cashier and customer service skills but had no place to teach them without the pressure and time constraints of a busy outlet. My team and I came up with the idea of opening a small café training lab for this purpose, which we now call The WEST Café training lab. It has been well received and supported by the institution.  It is such a successful training lab where students can now learn food preparation, cooking, baking, serving, dishwashing, and small business operations in a supportive environment.

Looking to the future, I am excited to bring another social enterprise to the WEST Program. For the past eight years, I have been eager to start a car detailing service run by our students that would offer discounted services to the VIU community. This opportunity would create many jobs for our students and provide an excellent training environment.

Overall, Vancouver Island University has been a wonderful place to work. I have received support and assistance from every department I have contacted over the years, and I have always felt supported. I am grateful for the personal growth Vancouver Island University has provided me and I am proud of the contributions I have made.