New program seeks to alleviate anxiety of going back-to-school for adults who didn't finish high school
Jennifer Murrin, the admissions officer at the Discovery Centre, says going back to school can be daunting but it's not so bad. (CBC)
Finishing high school can be a daunting notion — especially if you haven't been to school for years.
"We understand the stress that's related with taking that first step and deciding to go back to school as an adult or as a mature student," said Jennifer Murrin, the Admissions Officer at the Discovery Centre.
"We have been working with students, both current students and past graduates, to try and get the message out that returning to school is not as bad as you might think it is. It's not as stressful."
The Discovery Centre is an Adult Basic Education, or ABE, provider based in Newfoundland. With campuses in the St. John's area, Clarenville and Harbour Grace, the Centre's programming offer a high school equivalency program designed for individuals who didn't finish high school for various reasons.
However, Murrin said staff at the Discovery Centre noticed that a big barrier for many potential students is anxiety related to going back to school.
"It's a huge first step," Murrin said. "The anxieties and stress of the unknown is very great in a lot of situations."
"We're trying to alleviate some of the anxieties and misconceptions," Murrin said. "We are 100% here to help you in any way, shape or form that we can. We've been in the business for over 30 years. We've had literally thousands of graduates. You're not alone in your decision to return to school. And you know, if all of these other people can do it, then you totally can do it."
As a result, the Discovery Centre is now offering a series of Facebook Lives, hosted by students and previous graduates to ease the concerns of anyone interested in obtaining their ABE.
Meghan Allen, a recent graduate of the Discovery Centre's ABE program, says her son motivated her to go back to school. (CBC)
"We brainstormed with our students back in September to see what kind of anxieties and fears they had surrounding returning to school and what alleviated those fears," Murrin explained. "They indicated to us that it's seeing people who have experienced the exact same fears and the exact same anxieties. Seeing those people and knowing that they're not alone in this journey and that other people have experienced the same things."
Meghan Allen is a recent graduate of the ABE program and host of one of the centre's Facebook Lives. She's currently in a pharmacy technician program.
"Only for the Discovery Centre and going there and making the first steps. I wouldn't be as far as I am today," Allen said.
"It was very nerve wracking at first," Allen explained. "I wasn't sure what the environment was gonna be like, what the people there were gonna be like. I didn't know what to do really."
However, Allen's fears soon went away.
"Once I did make that step and get myself to go there and speak with Jennifer, it was a great start," she said. "I was beyond happy. The staff all welcomed you with open arms, made you feel comfortable, which made a big difference."
LISTEN | The CBC's Jeremy Eaton talks about back-to-school anxiety for adults with represntatives of the Discovery centre:
"Even the students, they're all there to help one another," Allen said. "It really opened my eyes to make me want to get my diploma."
Allen says she's very happy that she got over her initial anxieties about going to the Discovery Centre.
"I'm very proud of myself," she said. "I have a little boy at home… I wanted to do the right choices for him and going into the Discovery Centre was the big first step and he'd tell me everyday how proud of me he was."
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