Don’t give up
On this day many years ago I started my technology/business career at CN Rail.
For all my “friends” who can never remember which railroad I worked for…CP was our competitor. I did not work for “them”. Need I say more? 
Moving on.
The reason I’m writing this blog TODAY is because I still remember somebody asking me if I was sure that the job offer wasn’t an April Fools’ Day joke.
*#$%^&*()_+!!!!?
Can I give you a bit of context?
I am the first born of parents who, like many (dare I say all?) immigrant parents from Jamaica…and the rest of the world, came to Canada so that their children could have better opportunities than they had….. I graduated from McGill University with a major in mathematics and a minor in Computer Science, and I started job hunting……………………………..
Thankfully that job offer was not an April Fools’ joke. More than 1 year after graduation I got that job at CN in the field that I had studied for, computer programming, with an exciting salary. After that I was steadily promoted up through the ranks in the Information Systems department until I was a Business Systems Officer… then I moved to senior management as Manager of Business Planning in Marketing.
So today is the anniversary of the start of my 14-year career at CN Rail. I worked hard, learnt tons, and met beautiful people. Invaluable. Unforgettable. Thank you CN.
Now I work hard as a music minister. The money is not at all the same (HA!) but I know that I was created to do this, and my husband agrees. Purpose. Trust me though when I say that all the years at CN were not a waste. Yes leading Montreal Gospel Choir and Jireh Gospel Choir is about music…and it’s about people and business.
Don’t give up. In the year between my graduation and being hired at CN I worked in a job that didn’t require much of my brain, although afterwards I saw its merits. In that job I could measure what I had accomplished at the end of the day…not something you can always do when you are in management. 
DON’T GIVE UP!
Happy April Fools Day.
Dear Carol,
I’ve learned of you and the choirs you direct in Montreal through Jay Pinney, a missionary with, I believe, Evangelical Free Church. As well as a Parisian friend that now lives in Montreal and has attended one of your concerts.
I spent 20 years in France as a missionary, the last 8 in Paris, of which the last 5 I created and directed a gospel choir which had as many as 45 young adults in it. The choir’s purpose was a relational bridge for a handful of us that were believers, to rub shoulders with people through the community that a choir provides. That is my favorite part about directing choirs.
After 7 years back in the States, my wife and I are traveling to Montreal the end of next week, April 16-24. I would love to get together for coffee or a meal if you are available during that week. Do you have any concerts during this time frame? Would I be able to attend any of your rehearsals? I will be attending multiple church services April 17 and 24. Jay Pinney is lining those up for me, but perhaps you would have a church to recommend to me as well.
I will also be attending an Incubator training day April 20 and la CRAIE training April 23rd.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Dennis Martin
Prefield Director
OC International
onechallenge.org