“As a young person who is fairly new to the workforce, it can be daunting to find a place of employment that matches my educational level, experience, and interests. I had completed my Bachelor of Kinesiology back in December of 2020. I had already been supporting at COR for a couple of years, and once I convocated, I looked around and realized there was nowhere else I wanted to be. Here, I had an employer who cared about my well-being, provided me with the tools and resources to maintain all aspects of my health and gave me a sense of purpose and meaning. Not only did I now have a meaningful role to play in the organization, but the philosophy of gentle teaching had long been shaping my views of the world. I can honestly say, without the knowledge I have been taught at COR, I would be a completely different person. COR has helped me become kinder, warmer, and more relationship driven. As a student you’re expected to have goals, meet deadlines, and produce results. With COR, I now look to provide a sense of safety, to connect with marginalized people, to find the joy and kindness in them, to love them no matter the situation. I often leave a support time with a smile on my face. Every interaction is an opportunity to prove that I will still show up tomorrow. That I care. That it’s not about numbers or meeting targets or trying to make the other person better or different. That it’s about two humans with an authentic connection. If I had known looking for work would be more then finding a 9-5 that I was only a quarter passionate about, I never would have worried. COR is where I feel I belong, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”