When Selena Conway found out she was pregnant she was scared. No, job, no husband, no place to live.
Almost 30 years old, Conway was no stranger to frequent moves. From eastern Canada to Northern Canada (raised in Yellowknife, NWT) she followed her heart to Quesnel and shortly after she discovered her pregnancy, Conway was at Amata House where shelter and support sustained her.
With help from the staff at Amata House, Conway secured a subsidized housing unit and awaited the birth of her child.
“I cried every day, it was a difficult pregnancy and I was in and out of the hospital,” she said.
“I didn’t know where to go or what to do.”
Now two, Kyle is the light of her life and for the most part she’s happy but there’s a huge piece missing.
“I’d like a full time job,” she said.
A couple of months ago, Conway thought she’d landed a great job at a local coffee shop. Before taking the job, she was very clear about her availability, her daycare requirements and expectations on both her side and the employer’s side, but that didn’t prove to be the case.
With just about seven or eight weeks into the job, the situation began to deteriorate.
“I was at work by 5 a.m. every morning, I worked hard, never missed a shift, was never late and really made my hours at work count,” she said.
“My boss said my attitude had changed and began reducing the number of shifts I worked and changing my hours. I tried to talk to her but it was no good. The job was gone.”
Conway was devastated, just before Christmas and the future she envisioned was gone.
“Once I was working, I felt better about myself, I had a purpose, I was part of the work force, I was going to leave social assistance behind and make a better life for Kyle and I,” she said.
“I was moving on. Now I’m back to the big unknown. Do I go to school, do I try for another minimum wage job? I just don’t know.”
Although she has accumulated some skills relating to office work but that was a while a go and currently she’s working on her Grade 12 Dogwood diploma. She realizes that’s step one.
As a single mother with few skills, Conway said identified what she felt was missing in the system.
“There needs to be more professional people to help motivated people like myself, who are on social assistance, overcome the hurdles and help us sort out what we’d like to do, help create a five-year plan,” she said.
“I know everything takes time, but I still need a job.”
Despite the employment setback, Selena is determined to carve a better
life for Kyle and continues to hand out her resume and keeps her fingers crossed.
She’s hoping for a bright future, and right now she’s loving the chance to spend time with her main man, Kyle.