HANNAH DONOHOE (She/her)

What brought you to KPU and your program of study?

Ever since I was little, I knew that the field of criminology was for me. I knew I wanted to be apart of the criminal justice system in order to work towards making a difference.

Kwantlen offered me with the perfect environment to best meet my academic needs. I am not someone who enjoys big lecture halls filled with students where you are nothing but an ID number. I find it hard to stay engaged, learn, and participate given my quieter nature. KPU offered me smaller class sizes, hands-on experiences such as Practicum’s, and a variety of additional supports offered outside of the classroom.

Can you briefly describe your current position and your main day to day responsibilities?

I am currently employed with a non-profit organization working as an Adult Support Worker in the Northwest Territories Program.

My day to day responsibilities involve providing 1:1 support for Indigenous peoples experiencing mental, physical, psychological and criminal related barriers.

I meet with clients daily and target their life goals while also serving as a positive role model. We target lifestyle needs involving residential, financial, legal, educational, and vocational goals. Additionally we also focus on the basics, such as self care, mental and physical health, and the overall psychosocial functioning of the individual. A “typical day” does not really exist in this role, however our biggest priority is engaging our clients in pro-social activities that build their life skills and contribute to their success in the community.

Due to our clients being from the Northwest Territories, all the work we do is done while navigating cultural safety and protocols.

Which skills, knowledge, or experiences from KPU have been most valuable in your career so far?

There are two experiences that stand out to me as being the most influential towards my career thus far, as they have provided me with the a variety of skills and valuable knowledge.

First, Kwantlen offered several opportunities for education and growth related to Indigenous peoples and their adverse experiences. The cultural knowledge gained throughout my degree has been implemented daily in my vocational journey because I work directly with these marginalized populations.
I partook in Restorative Justice and Peacemaking circles with life-sentenced Indigenous men, I wrote a report on the over representation of Indigenous women in Canadian institutions after visiting the Fraser Valley Institute for Women, and took a Trauma-Informed course that offered an important foundation for my current role. All of these experiences and opportunities were entangled within course material, enhancing the learning through hands-on experience.

Second would be my practicum. I completed a practicum with Maple Ridge Community Corrections where I shadowed an Integration Probation officer for 350 hours. As an Integration PO, my mentors role required her to work directly with those experiencing severe mental, physical, and psychological barriers. Due to the unique nature of her clients, her role almost doubled as a support worker. Through my practicum I visited two Provincial institutions, one psychiatric hospital, and spent 40 hours shadowing outreach workers and psychiatrists at Downtown Community Court on the Vancouver Eastside. My practicum experience provided me with valuable knowledge that is unattainable through a textbook. It provided me with hands on understanding that has been referred to in my current position, and continues to foster my confidence within this field.

What advice would you give current KPU students who want to build a successful career after graduation?

The biggest take away I would give to others navigating a successful career after graduation is not to put so much pressure on the now. Things will happen when they happen and fall into place eventually. I put a lot of pressure on myself to “get into my field” once I graduated. This mindset hindered my confidence when it came to applying and even made me question if I chose the right path.

At the end of the day, I completed my degree while working a full time job and taking additional courses such as First Aid, Naloxone, and an Adult Probation officers course with the Justice Institute. I was so concerned with “being behind” that I failed to acknowledge all of the additional work I was doing to better myself and my career.

Fast forward to today, I currently work for an organization that makes a difference daily in the lives of at risk populations and ensures their staff are taken care of while doing so. I get to apply the knowledge acquired throughout my educational journey with Kwantlen and continue to expand on it, ultimately opening more avenues for me to explore within this field.