Pandemic sparks a return to school

Pandemic sparks a return to school

After 16 months of temporary layoff andlockdowns, Ange was once again a Fanshawe student—and exceeded her own expectations.

Ange Somerville (Legal Assistant Alumni, 1999, Public Relations – Corporate Communications Alumni, 2021) joined GoodLife in 2006, eventually becoming national property manager. In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when fitness clubs were forced toclose because of governmentrestrictions, she was laid offindefinitely.

“It was heart wrenching, especially during such an uncertain time,” she says. “With the fitness sector facing so many unknowns and no fixed date for my return to work, I knew it was time to go back to school.”

She found the Public Relations – Corporate Communications graduate certificate program and began weeks later, balancing the challenges of learning remotely—after 21 years away from school—with parenting her five-year-old son, Winston.

Ange Somerville (Legal Assistant Alumni, 1999, Public Relations – Corporate Communications Alumni, 2021)

“I feared failure and the unknown,” she admits. “I didn’t know if I could handle the stress and workload of a postgraduate program, and was concerned that time with my family would be compromised.”

Despite her worries, Ange excelled in the program, receiving two awards from IABC London: the Canada Life Award for Academic Excellence (for highest cumulative GPA) and the Canada Life Leadership Award.

“I wanted to show my son the importance of hard work,”she says. “He was so proud of my accomplishments andawards. In his words, ‘Mommy won school!’”

After graduating, GoodLife offered Ange a content specialist role. Reflecting on her journey over the past year and a half, she offers one simple piece of advice for anyone considering returning to school.

“Don’t be afraid! Fear held me back from taking this very important step in my life that I may have otherwise taken much sooner. If you’re passionate about a career shift, you will give it everything you’ve got.”