I feel fortunate and grateful to have been a participant in the Platform to Employment Program. Togetherness, Compassion, Self-Reflection, Strength, Vision, Laughter and Direction were the gifts. P2E called me to action. I accepted the challenge to do the hard work and remained open to suggestions of positive change from my coaches and cohort peers. I gained new perspective on how to look for jobs in a changing marketplace. The trainer and coaches instilled hope and remained supportive and caring throughout the process, while guiding us to transfer our skills to new opportunities. I was reminded to reflect on my core values, examine my weaknesses and build on my strengths. With renewed confidence and appreciation, I feel happy to bring even more compassionate value to my personal life and job opportunities. We acknowledged our painful past, in order to move forward. Through shared stories of mutual devastation, the cohort acknowledged their commonalities. These shared commonalities, helped us form welcome bonds that contribute to future networking for ourselves, and paying it forward for others. I step out the other side of this program, a calm, changed person. The “yes” I received at the interview to join the P2E program, was the first “yes” I had heard in a long time…That “yes” has made all the difference for me.
