 When you have a disability, sometimes you feel your dreams are out of reach. I was born with a condition called Microsia. It's a condition where my ears were the size of earlobes. As a child, not only was I hard of hearing to begin with, but I didn't speak English, so communication was very, very difficult. For a good eight years from middle school to the end of post-secondary, I had a prosthetic witch I had to glue on. I wanted to hide. I wanted to put a mask on and be someone else when I stepped out of my home. When I started university, I realized that I had great passion for communications. And to be able to tell stories, I felt that was my channel to express myself. Along the way, I needed emotional and mental support from the teachers, from my support circle and professionals. For people with disabilities, it can be really hard to know where to go for help. WorkBC is a resource that you can go to. You can reach out to their specialists to get assistance for counseling, for assistive devices and extra support to move forward. Finding a job for sure was very difficult, but it was a good learning experience. I had to muster some bravery to tell my employer about my disability and my hearing loss, and I think that first step was really crucial. When I got this position, I was elated. As a communications and marketing manager at Wavefront Center, I'm empowered to share my lived experiences and help people get access to resources and support that otherwise they would not have for many people. There are barriers to work, visible or invisible, and I feel so fortunate to be able to be here today with my ability to help others meet their goals. My job feels like a home and a community for me, and really is a true calling.