Glenda James

Certificate in Visual Design (2009)

"I think it did way more for me than I expected," says Glenda James, of her Certificate in Visual Design.

Glenda and her partner, Darcy Blanchard, already had an established home staging company when they chose to enrol in the Certificate in Visual Design with a specialization in Interior Design. The partners were expanding their business to take on larger design jobs, and felt additional education would be a huge asset—both for the knowledge and the credibility.

"The learning opened my eyes to many other aspects of visual design, and it really did help our business as well. People ask about our credentials all the time, so it's become a very valuable asset... I'm really glad I did it."

The partners tackled the program together, using the "buddy system" to get them through the program at the same time they were developing their business and managing family responsibilities. It took them three years to complete the certificate, generally fitting in one course per session.

"Going back to school was an adjustment. It's given me a whole new appreciation of my kids' lives, so I've learned from it in many ways," says Glenda. "And the instructors were amazing; they were so patient."

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