After dropping out of school, 31-year-old Lac Simon native Kevin Poucachiche decided to take control of his life and learn a trade that would motivate him to get up and work every morning. He found his calling by returning to school in adult education and vocational training.

Mélissa Maltais, 43, is a civil engineering and dam safety support technician for Hydro-Québec. We met up with her at the Jean-Lesage generating station, near Baie-Comeau, in Côte-Nord. She told us about her educational and professional background and experience as a woman in a male-dominated sector.

Matthew Poucachiche works at the Canadian Malartic Mine, one of Canada's largest open-pit gold mines, situated in Malartic, in the administrative region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue. The young man, who is in his twenties and a former dropout, went back to school to complete a double diploma in vocational studies before embarking on an exciting career in mining. He is telling us about his journey.

Noami Jourdain grew up in Uashat, a small community of 1,500 Innu in the Sept-Rivières regional county municipality in the Côte-Nord region. The young 28-year-old has just completed the training program Protection and Development of Wildlife Habitats at the vocational school CFP du Grand-Fjord, pavillon La Baie, in the Saguenay region.

Keely Shay Tekawisahá:wi Paul was raised by her mother and grew up in the Kahnawake territory, surrounded by a large family in a caring community. At 24, the young  Mohawk decided to tackle the challenge of returning to vocational school in a field that has always piqued her interest: construction.

Paul Darlin Tchignou, from Cameroon, is currently studying in Amos, Abitibi, in Health, Assistance and Nursing. The young man, who is in his thirties, found his calling as a licensed practical nurse, a profession that aligns with his values of empathy and helping others.

Nathalie Boujard, along with her spouse and daughter, left France to come and live an adventure in Québec. It was an opportunity for her to find a new challenging and essential trade: water treatment operator, a trade that happens to be a male-dominated profession.

Gaëtan Receveur has worked as a gendarme and as a photographer. As he was approaching his thirties, with his spouse by his side, he decided to deepen his passion for computers by enrolling in the DVS in Computing Support. The French student, who has recently arrived in Québec, is talking to us about his training and new life.

Clovis Soffack left Cameroon for Québec. His goal was to train in Automated Systems Electromechanics. To achieve this, he undertook a journey that would take him to Baie-James. He traded in the sun in Douala for the cold in northern Québec. Clovis is sharing his experience in vocational training.

Anne-Marie Asselin has been sailing the seas since her student days at the Institut maritime du Québec (IMQ) in Rimouski. Québec's maritime world offers adventure and discovery. Come aboard with Anne-Marie, who has agreed to talk about her time at the IMQ and her various sailing experiences.

Although today she is well settled in Québec, Saoussen had many moments of doubt. Moving to a foreign country always comes with its fair share of questions. For Saoussen, the answers came to her as she persevered. Between her studies, her work and her family, she succeeded through determination and courage.

Ludivine Roche did not hesitate to leave for Québec. Her choice? A DVS in Accounting. It was an eye-opening experience as she, like thousands of students, was isolated at home due to the pandemic. She had to keep strong. Resilience, patience, and being far from her family; this journey had its fair share of challenges.