AC Online grad successfully pivots into rewarding mental health counselling career
At 28 years old, Sharzie had already earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and had been working in the education field for the first few years of her career. Yet a feeling of yearning to push herself kept nagging. “While I appreciated the work I was doing, a quiet voice inside kept saying, “This isn’t it — not forever,” she confides. When the pandemic hit, Sharzie knew she had to explore other dreams, and went looking for a program that would allow her to continue to work her full-time job as she explored her next move.
Today, Sharzie is proud to have earned her graduate certificate in Addictions and Mental Health through AC Online, and even prouder to have accepted a position as a mental health counsellor the day after completing her studies.
Sharzie didn’t have to look far for inspiration – both her mother and sister had taken courses at Algonquin College to support their careers. “Algonquin’s reputation made the decision easy – I knew I’d get both quality education and practical experience,” she says. While she already knew the online format would fit her lifestyle, it was the program’s practicum that convinced her to sign up.
“In such a competitive field, gaining real-world experience can be difficult—and this program opened that door for me. The hands-on learning allowed me to grow in ways I never expected, and I’m forever grateful for that experience,” she says.
Once enrolled, Sharzie’s enthusiasm for the flexibility of the online format only grew. Being able to access the materials at any time made it easy to balance work with school and even keep up with her studies while she was away. “Whether I was at home in Ottawa or halfway across the world visiting my family, I could stay on track and engaged without worrying that I have to attend class at a set time or that I was going to ‘miss out’ on a live lecture,” she says.
Sharzie adds that she was thrilled about the connections she made with her professors, calling them thoughtful, compassionate and present. “AC Online created a sense of support and connection. I never felt alone. [Facilitators] were responsive and invested in our learning, and there were plenty of group projects that demonstrated real-life counselling skills. It reminded me that community doesn’t always have to be a physical space – it’s about a shared purpose, which AC Online cultivated,” she says.
Now working in a field that she loves, Sharzie is a strong advocate for others who may be feeling a similar restlessness to start a similar exploration. “If you’re on the fence about studying online, just trust yourself and take that step. AC Online makes it flexible and real. Before you know it, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ve grown and what you’ve accomplished.”