Finding Your True Calling: Meet Kassandra Jabalee

As the saying goes, there’s no place like home. That’s a concept echoed by two-time CBU graduate and current Bachelor of Social Work student, Kassandra Jabalee. Traveling to campus each day from Bras d’Or, Kassandra first came to CBU because she wanted to remain in her hometown surrounded by family and friends while pursuing her university education.

Since then, Kassandra has graduated with a four-year Bachelor of Arts, major in Political Science and minor in History, along with a three-year Bachelor of Arts, major in Psychology, before entering the Bachelor of Social Work program among the first cohort.

Kassandra says it’s the supportive community that keeps her coming back to CBU. “The professors are incredible people who truly care about their students and do everything they can to help them succeed,” Kassandra says. “With the smaller class sizes, you receive personalized attention which helps forge stronger relationships. I always feel I’m in good hands at CBU, knowing if any difficulties arise that I have the support to help me through.”

Before coming to CBU, Kassandra felt she was lacking self-confidence and direction. “CBU allowed me to explore so many options and gave me opportunities that I never would have gotten elsewhere,” she shares. “Being here altered my direction in life and has significantly impacted my future in the best ways possible, helping my personal growth while exposing me to new ideas and worldviews.”

When the Bachelor of Social Work program first started accepting student applications in Winter 2023, Kassandra quickly applied, excited to continue diversifying her portfolio by furthering her studies. “Deep down, I knew I always wanted to be a social worker and to make a difference in my community,” Kassandra says. “The Bachelor of Social Work program gave me the perfect opportunity to build that foundation.” 

Kassandra says being in the Bachelor of Social Work program has provided her with plenty of new opportunities such as helping to create the first Social Work Society and being a part of the planning committee for the first Indigenous Social Work Conference. “I have immense pride and gratitude for being a part of the first cohort of students, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience or a better group of classmates to complete this journey with,” Kassandra says.

Currently, Kassandra is doing her final placement with Primary Health in various collaborative clinics. She says this is an experience she is enjoying immensely, as she gets to work alongside social workers and other multidisciplinary teams while meeting kind-hearted patients. Following her graduation, Kassandra plans to remain in Cape Breton and work in the mental health industry to help make a positive change in her community.