---
title: "Meet Sarah: CSW Grad Lands Ideal Job as Educational Assistant | Herzing"
description: Sarah Laham describes her experience in Herzing’s CSW program and how she used it to launch a rewarding career in the education system.
image: https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Sarah%20Laham.jpg
---

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# Meet Sarah: CSW Grad Lands Ideal Job as Educational Assistant

**Mar 1, 2023, 9:29:00 AM**

![Herzing CSW grad Sarah Laham](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Sarah%20Laham.jpg)

# Meet Sarah: CSW Grad Lands Ideal Job as Educational Assistant

**Mar 1, 2023, 9:29:00 AM**

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![Herzing CSW grad Sarah Laham](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Sarah%20Laham.jpg)

When you think of a community services worker, you might picture someone helping out in shelters, halfway houses, or youth centres. A high school classroom probably doesn’t come to mind.

But that’s because you haven’t met Sarah Laham.

Sarah completed Herzing’s Community Services Worker program with a stellar GPA and fully expected to follow the typical CSW career path. Instead, she landed a position as an educational assistant in an Ottawa high school—and found it was exactly where she was meant to be.

Here’s her story.

 

### **Q. Sarah, can you share a bit about your background? What were you doing before heading back to school?**

**Sarah:** I’m actually a theatre arts graduate. I’d been working retail for my entire career, mainly clothing retail, and I found that I excelled at connecting with those who had different needs. Any time there would be a customer with a different physical appearance or disability, or a language barrier, I never had an issue just stepping in.

When the pandemic hit, I was laid off for a little while and ended up doing some career coaching. As part of that, I did the Myers-Briggs personality test and scored very high for social work. That got me thinking that my heart and empathy could lead me into a new career.

 

### **Q. What made you choose the CSW program at Herzing?**

**Sarah:** I looked through different schools and the Community Services Worker program at Herzing just seemed to be a good fit. I liked the course content and the potential opportunities it could lead to.

I took a chance with applying for it and it was almost instantaneous. I had never done private college, so I wasn’t sure how long a wait it would be, but I started almost within the week. I was still working my retail job, so I had to let them know I was going back to school.

 

### **Q. How did you find the workload?**

**Sarah:** The course started with computer fundamentals, which was easy enough because I’m well versed with computers and typing.

But when we got into sociology and criminology as our second course, I found working while in school was a little harder because Herzing’s program is condensed. If I went to any other school, I’d be doing two to two-and-a-half years of work for this CSW course, and we were cramming it into one year. Every week there is an essay or a test or exam, so it is a lot.

 

### **Q. Can you describe some of the skills you developed in the CSW program?**

**Sarah:** I developed a broader mindset when approaching people from vulnerable sectors. I found that the family dynamics course was very good at opening my mind to that. I consider myself a pretty empathetic person, but the program definitely opened up a lot more empathy and understanding.

It was an eye-opening experience when we did the interview course. We had to reach out to different organizations to do a mock interview to see how their organization runs. I was looking up so many different organizations that I didn’t even know existed in my own city.

I felt that was very helpful when it came time for internship choices.

 

### **Q. What was your internship like?**

**Sarah:** I did my internship with Terrace Wellness, an organization with four separate group homes. I did anything from cleaning and cooking to behavioural work. I would help get things ready for craft activities or youth nights. I had a wide variety of tasks.

At one point I had to clean an entire room after an unfortunate incident in which one child decided to basically empty the fridge in this other kid’s room. *Somebody* has to clean it, right?

I loved what I did with the kids and I was really great with behavioural work, but that incident got me thinking about other opportunities that could be out there.

 

### **Q. How did you come to be an educational assistant at a high school?**

**Sarah:** I did my internship in the group home and was going to transition straight into that. But I had this stuck feeling of I’m really good at this job, so I *should* do this, but I don’t know if I want to.

Two of my friends are educators, and they suggested I’d be amazing as an educational assistant. I was always under the impression that you needed teacher’s college or a university degree to be one, but that turned out not to be the case. The education that I received from Herzing was more than adequate for the role.

While interning at the group home, I was able to receive therapeutic crisis intervention training, and I got CPR training through Herzing, so that made me a stronger candidate in the eyes of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. I applied when I graduated in November 2021 and was working December 1st.

I work with a Grade 9 and Grade 11 student, and the things I learned in the course have really helped me to connect with the students and make sure that every child feels validated. I’m applying the same strategies I learned at Herzing to de-escalate situations.

 

### **Q. You received the Award of Merit from Herzing! Tell us about that.**

**Sarah:** They don’t tell you beforehand that you should be at the graduation ceremony, which was held a year after I finished the program. And I almost didn’t go, as it had been a year and I was already working in the field. Plus, the day of graduation was my husband’s birthday. We were talking about whether I should go, and he said that for a birthday gift, I want you to go to your graduation.

That turned out to be great, because it would have been very embarrassing to get the Award of Merit, which includes a perfect attendance record, and not be there!

I had no idea that I was going to receive this award, so I was flabbergasted. It was amazing to be recognized for my hard work and dedication. I also won Student of the Year for Herzing, so that was overwhelming.

 

### **Q. How would you rate the program overall?**

**Sarah:** On a scale of 10, I’d give it an 11. I highly recommend it. I *have* recommended it.

Herzing made it easy to absorb the knowledge and left me feeling confident. By the end of the program, I knew I was ready to get out in the field.

I had to go through this winding journey to get where I need to be. I’m now at a job where I not only feel fulfilled, but I know that I am fulfilling other lives because of what I do. I am creating a positive environment and energy for my kids to learn in and helping them feel that support and validation that they so very much need during this time of their lives.

 

## LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES WORKER PROGRAM

Herzing College Ottawa offers an intensive CSW program that is just 12 months long and includes an eight-week internship with a community organization.

Click below to get complete program details and chat live with an admissions advisor who can answer any questions you have. We’re here to help!

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