Tori Dimytruk is in career exploration mode. Last year she completed her Firefighter – Pre-Service Education and Training certificate in aid of her long-term goal of becoming a firefighter, and is now halfway through the Trades Fundamentals certificate that she started in September, exploring other options that will to sustain her through the long journey towards the fire service. So far, she’s discovered electrician and plumbing work are not as intimidating as she thought, although she’s still most looking forward to next term when she will try out her biggest interest, carpentry, as another future goal may be to flip houses.
All of this while working two part-time jobs and raising her three-year-old son. This is the life of a mature student and single mom making things happen. “A friend of mine was over the other day and said, I’m ‘looking at your calendar on your fridge—two part time jobs, going to school, raising your son—how are you doing all this?’” says Dimytruk.
At 22, Dimytruk’s ambition to join the fire department brought her to her first certificate at DC, but it was a friend she met there who inspired her to move into her trades exploration. Fire programs technician and alumna Heather Reid was helping to outfit the new recruits with their firefighting gear when the pair started a conversation. As they bonded over single parenthood, Dimytruk began asking for advice on the program, and Reid suggested she might also check out Trade Fundamentals as a way to explore further along a pathway that might be compatible with her life as a single parent.
Now Dimytruk is following in Reid’s footsteps, and even considering taking a Carpentry certificate if she can access some funding to keep going (Reid chose the Mechanical Technician – Elevating Devices route following her trades exploration). She kept in touch with Reid, and credits her with helping navigate the services available to her as a mature student.
“We have a very aligned life path,” says Dimytruk. “At that moment you meet the right person at the right place, we became friends.”
Dimytruk says that while life is different as a mature student, it’s not in a bad way. She finds she’s able to develop more meaningful relationships with her professors and notices a difference in her confidence level.
“It’s my confidence and self-esteem—out of high school I was so shy, I was a completely different person. A lot has changed in five years,” she says. Now that she knows what she wants and where she’s going, any sacrifices are worth it, and especially with her son at the centre. “I do think it’s something about short term pain, long term gain,” she says in terms of what drives her.
Her advice for others considering a return to school is to put mind over matter and just go for it. “My biggest thing is to remember why you’re doing it and set the fears aside. It was a lot different at 17, although I’m only a few years older, it’s a different stage of life. Especially with Durham there’s so much support to just do it and get it done.”
Did you know more than 60% of Durham College students are mature students? Whether you’re exploring career options, seeking a career change, or enhancing your skills, we’re here to guide you toward your educational goals. Learn more about how we support your unique needs.
App Store
Google Play