“I felt a weight lift off my shoulders” - Finding support among crisis through NSCC's Rapid Response program
Balancing family, work and school
For Darian Young, the path to becoming an early childhood educator wasn't straightforward. Becoming a mother at 19 meant putting her educational dreams on hold while she focused on providing for her son. In 2020, after relocating from Leduc, Alberta, to Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Darian finally saw an opportunity to pursue her passion. She enrolled part-time in the Early Childhood Education program at NSCC's eCampus while working full-time as a Quality Control Technician and raising her family.
Finding hope during unexpected turns
In May 2023, life took an unexpected turn when wildfires forced Darian and her family to evacuate their home. Facing uncertainty about whether they would have a home to return to and unable to work during the evacuation, Darian found herself at a crossroads. That's when she learned about NSCC's Emergency Wildfire Bursary, funded by NSCC's Rapid Response Fund.
"Once I received the funds, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders," Darian recalls. "I was able to pay off my schooling debt and help pay some bills while I was not working during that time."
Rising above
Tragically, Darian lost her home in the wildfire. During this extremely challenging period, the Emergency Wildfire Bursary allowed her to continue her education. Rather than having to choose between her studies and financial survival, she could focus on supporting her children while completing her coursework.
Today, Darian is building a new home within Shelburne County and has returned to work at a local childcare facility. Despite the challenges, she remains committed to her studies and is on track to graduate with honours in June 2025 with the goal of working in a pre-primary program in the school system, then eventually opening her own home daycare.
The importance of giving back
“I believe it’s important for people to donate to the Rapid Response Fund because it could alleviate financial burdens for students who have experienced traumatic events,” says Darian, reflecting on the impact of Rapid Response. “It could be the saving grace for someone who might have to choose between continuing their education to better provide for their families or to continue to be stuck in debt and give up on their education so they can work to survive.”
To donors who support the Rapid Response Fund, Darian expresses profound gratitude: "Thank you for being my saving grace and alleviating financial stress to allow me to continue my education, pursuing my goals and dreams."
She also thanks everyone in the community of Shelburne, as the support she and her family received over the last year has been heartwarming.
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