Why Me? Why Now? | My Journey to CareImpact
In August 2024, I said goodbye to the amazing staff I'd worked with during my final practicum at End Homelessness Winnipeg, packed up my things, and went home. After four years—plus an intense summer marked by a sudden change in my placement and the pressure of completing my last two classes—I had finally done it. Something I never thought possible had become reality. I knew that in just two short months, I’d be holding my Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Manitoba. Clinging tightly to this joyful thought, I collapsed onto my couch and began my planned four months of rest (with no job-searching allowed!). Little did I know, God had a door wide open for me, and I was only two months away from receiving a life-changing phone call.
Rewind back to September 2021. I remember anxiously logging into my first online lecture as a University 1 student, set on becoming a business major—specifically in human resources. Why HR? Honestly, I saw it as a reliable backup plan. I liked the idea of advocating for people, and I figured the skills would easily transfer to ministry, which was my ultimate goal. But that first year was rocky, to say the least. After my first semester, I experienced a mental breakdown and finally faced the fact that wounds from my past needed professional help. In a surprising way, my academic journey led me toward taking my mental health seriously—and learning to trust God in deeper ways.
It was also around this time I started spending more intentional time with my now-husband, whose father casually suggested I look into social work. After one Google search, I knew instantly: social work was exactly where I needed to be.
Fast forward to the winter semester of 2024—I was now married, navigating the complexities of the mental health system alongside my husband, and simply trying to finish my second-to-last year of university. It was a semester filled with emotionally challenging topics, nights spent crying out to God, and deep reflections on faith, trauma, and my own journey. During this whirlwind, a classmate mentioned they planned to finish their degree over the summer because they only had two classes and a practicum left. That sparked something in me—I was in the exact same position. Initially, I decided against it—but at some point during that semester, I strongly felt God urging me to finish my degree that summer. With a leap of faith, I said yes, arranged to stay at my existing placement in a new role, and marked my calendar for May 3rd.
When the summer began, I was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. This was it—just four more months and then I could continue working at my placement come September. But God's plans weren’t what I expected. What unfolded next became one of the hardest seasons of my life. My placement completely broke down due to a major conflict. For three anxiety-filled days, I was a nervous, panicked wreck, desperately holding onto God for safety and help. My "perfect" plan collapsed, and I still carry some wounds from that experience. Yet God wasn’t disrupted at all—He had something even better ahead, something I could never have imagined.
Mid-summer, with no placement and graduation deadlines rapidly approaching, I waited and prayed. Amazingly, I ended up at End Homelessness Winnipeg. During the final five weeks of my degree, God equipped me in ways I hadn't anticipated, providing essential skills, experiences, and connections for what was coming next. Each day, I thrived by leaning fully on Him. On the last day, as I left the building, I breathed deeply in gratitude and relief. My degree was officially done. And the best part? God had gently told me to pause and rest until January before applying to jobs. After the summer I’d had, this was easily the quickest I’d ever said yes (except maybe the moment my now-husband asked me to officially be his girlfriend!).
From August through October, I embraced having an open schedule. I slept in, prayed, watched more documentaries than I’d like to admit, and focused on healing from the summer’s chaos. Then—one ordinary afternoon, in the middle of a documentary binge—I got a surprise text from Wendi: "Are you available for a quick call?" Twenty minutes later, she asked if I wanted to become a trained facilitator for the Cost of Poverty Experience through Think Tank. My heart practically stopped, then filled with absolute joy as I said yes immediately (possibly even faster than when my husband first asked me out!). During that call, I shared with Wendi that my biggest desire throughout my degree had always been simply to educate and love people deeply. That moment marked the beginning of walking through the door God had opened for me—and let me tell you, the past four months have felt like a surreal, pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming journey.
Through all of this, two questions keep circling in my head: "Why me? Why now?" Reflecting back, I only see God. Every moment, every heartbreak, and every victory was marked by His presence, healing, and preparation. I know I’m not the most qualified candidate. I don’t have years of professional experience behind me, and I’m definitely still navigating self-doubt (most days, if I’m honest). But this much I’m absolutely certain of: God led me here. He heard my heart, made me exactly who I am, and directed my steps intentionally toward CareImpact.
Why now? Only God knows fully—but it’s happening, it’s real, and I’m filled with excitement (and a healthy dose of intimidation!) about what’s coming next.
With a deep breath and my eyes fixed firmly on God, it’s time to embark on this adventure. I’d love for you to come along—because this journey isn’t just mine. I’m eager to see what He has planned for all of us.
