CAMH patient Steve Poge enjoys the assortment of books in the classroom as well as learning how to improve his grammar, punctuation and math skills.
“I like the numbers and signs in math,” says Steve, a Burlington, Ont. native who grew up in Scotland.
Steve had been talking about going back to school for a very long time, but he always felt he needed to improve his grammar and math skills first, so he was a bit hesitant, explains Joan Loughran, Case Manager.
“Over the past two years that Steve’s been going, I’ve noticed he’s gained a lot of confidence and he’s looking at options for the future for when he’s done his courses. He takes it very seriously.”
“You have to study,” adds Steve. “You can’t just give up.”
Steve is now half way towards achieving his GED and hopes to find a job one day doing security work as a floor walker.
“I’m learning how to write a paragraph and I’m learning my pronunciations,” says Roger, who immigrated to Canada in 1999 from the Philippines.
Roger was also hesitant to return to school at first, but ever since he did he has become more independent and self-assured, says Janu Macdonald, Recreation Therapist.
“He’s more able to handle difficulties or problems that come up,” she says. “For example, if there’s a housing issue, he’s more confident to try to resolve the dilemma that’s going on in the house with the co-residents. Previously, Roger would need more support from me.”
The ESU’s relaxed course structure allows patients to comfortably transition back into the routine of going to school, doing homework and studying for tests, adds Janu.
“This course gives him the skills he needs to navigate his life and better understand what’s being asked of him. It also prepares him for next steps towards employment,” she says.
Janu and Roger have recently been talking about him taking a culinary program at George Brown College once his finishes the ESU course because he has a lot of experience working in kitchens.
“Maybe one day I’ll go back into cooking,” he says. “I like to cook steaks.”
Roger Steve and several other patients received Certificates of Participation in the ESU course at the end of the year celebration in June with family, friends and CAMH staff. They are both returning to the course this fall to continue their studies.
