James was just a baby when his father died in a tragic rock fishing accident. For many years, he and his mum just managed to make ends meet. But when James turned 11, his mum became sick with an autoimmune disease called Sjogren’s syndrome and couldn’t continue working.
This meant James had to take on more responsibilities at home. He cleaned the house, mowed the lawn, and cooked meals. As soon as he could, he got himself a job, and at age 14 started working after school and weekends to bring in money.
The additional responsibilities took their toll. James’ grades began to slip. He was often very tired and had little time to study or think about the future.
“I was more concerned about whether I could pay the electricity bill,” he says.
This is where his sponsor played such a crucial role. With their support, James got the opportunity at 14 to join The Smith Family Career Mentoring Program, and was introduced to his Learning for Life Coordinator, Regina.
