For students in the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program at George Brown College (GBC), this semester’s work experience term differs from the regular experience that students would normally expect. Holding the responsibility of caring for society’s most vulnerable during a global pandemic, PSW students have quickly had to learn how to adapt to their workplace environments.

“The virus came out of nowhere. We were all shocked, it was very scary if I could be honest,” says Tymika Duncan, a student in the PSW program who finished her work experience at The Rekai Centre in December 2020.

“You’re taking care of a human being. You’re putting your life on the line.”

Risking their personal health to provide essential care to those in need, GBC’s PSW students in placement have had to undergo a series of preventative measures to ensure the safety of their patients, themselves, and their loved ones at home. Originally, the students were obliged to undergo bi-weekly COVID-19 tests before attending placement, but as cases rise, they are now tested once a week.

Duncan says if an outbreak were to occur in the long-term care centers, however, the students would still be expected to show up and complete their sessions.

“When it came to my mother and I, because she is of the elderly, I would come home and take everything off at the front door and try my best to keep it as clean as possible,” says Duncan.

“I do know that this is something I want to do with my career, but I also didn’t want to jeopardize my mother’s life.”

GBC’s PSW students were given the opportunity to postpone their work terms but were informed that they would not be able to graduate without completing this component. Duncan, however, says she felt comfortable completing it in the previous term.

“It’s not like we’re going in there on our own. It’s kind of like a team effort and we felt comfortable to do so.”

While there has been plenty of controversy about jeopardizing the safety of students to complete work placement amid a global pandemic, Duncan says it has been an all-around positive experience in preparing her for her career path.

“I think it’s a positive experience. It’s also a realistic one as well. You have to know that things like this may happen anywhere in the world, and it’s something that you kind of have to be prepared for or learn to be prepared for.”

“I can say that me going to my placement has taught me resilience, helped me manage my emotions through the pandemic and helped me understand why I’m getting into what I’m getting into, and who I’m doing it for.”

Duncan has always had a passion for long-term care, ever since she was a child. With two deaf parents, she thoroughly understands the level of importance Personal Support Workers hold in people’s lives.

“When it came to helping people in general, I was always on the opposite end where I grew up with deaf parents. I understood, not the lack of care, but sometimes the disadvantages that they have. For me, it is just something that is really deep for me, I understand it firsthand, and I just knew that it was always something I wanted to do.”

Barbara Michalik, director of community & academic partnerships and programs at the Rekai Centres has been advocating for students in placement and “working on a relationship for vaccination.”

As the COVID-19 crisis endures on, it continues to illustrate how little we are able to control the world around us. What we can control, however, is how we proceed in times of adversity. Duncan leads as an example, in how to learn, build, and grow from the unprecedented experiences we are faced with in life.