Transformational Change Alumni Award: Jennifer Barnable

When the NSCC Alumni Relations team reached out to let me know I had been selected for the very first NSCC Alumni Awards, I was rosy cheeked. My experience at the College had been an overwhelmingly positive experience of empowering education and community belonging. I was honoured to be named an inaugural recipient of the awards!

After my degree at Memorial University, and some time working and travelling in Europe, I decided to complete my Advanced Diploma in Public Relations. And to this day, some of the people I studied and worked alongside in the program are still close friends and mentors.

A Solid Foundation

Back then, at Halifax campus, I graduated as Class of 2003 Valedictorian with my Advanced Diploma in Public Relations (Honours), along with awards like Highest Academic Achievement (Business Faculty), Community Leadership Award and CPRS-NS Award for Excellence.

I fully immersed myself in the NSCC experience, campus life, community volunteering, loved my mentorship and work term, and had a job offer before I’d even finished the program. It was a wise investment on a personal and professional level.

Being a communicator by nature, and a creative and storyteller, made me well suited to the kind of public relations that didn’t crave the spotlight but wanted to dig in and make change, create new things and raise awareness with community building in mind. I loved my studies and the real world opportunities it brought me.

The College recognized my raw talent and encouraged my passion for community activism. My PR Communications diploma served me well in everything I did after graduation. I still use it every day, including in my inclusion advocacy work.

Back then: *Horsing around at our Convocation Party*

Focused on Progress not Accolades

Over my public relations career, I had been encouraged to go for awards and recognition, but I never did. I preferred to focus on doing the work that needed to be done and building towards results over recognition.

Opportunities would come and go, people would mention they should nominate me for my work, but I was unassuming and neve paid much notice. I was more interested in making change than being in the spotlight.

Looking back now, I realize I could have been more strategic in seeking career recognition but it was not in my nature due to a combination of factors: as a pragmatic, self-deprecating Irish Newfoundlander, a woman raised in patriarchy that discouraged women showing pride and confidence, and a high-masking autistic woman who it wouldn’t occur to while hyperfocused on her work and passions.

I was the first to enthusiastically support and celebrate others’ recognition yet it didn’t resonate with me because I was told my entire life the opposite – that I was a “dreamer” and didn’t belong, or deserve to be celebrated if I didn’t conform or make myself small. That’s squarely on the shoulders of our society and a dysfunctional upbringing. Luckily, I was strong enough to stay true to myself and not let others’ projections and criticisms stop me from pursuing the life that felt authentic to me and to do meaningful things to help others.

Only in the last few years have I accepted nominations for awards, and all these years later, despite a long and eventful career, it feels like I’m brand new to the recognition scene. An important factor to note, too is: when you don’t see yourself or your experience represented, you don’t think you belong. “That that’s for someone else, other people, not people like you.” is the message you internalize. And having met some people over the years who were keenly focused on recognition and appearance, but not on integrity and actual work, I was almost opposed to it.

What I’ve learned over my career is that some of our strongest leaders and changemakers are often quietly, busily and innovatively making things happen behind the scenes, without wanting or needing the pomp and circumstance. The people who don’t look up long enough to take their eyes off their goal and passions, to fully recognize their impact and value.

So it’s extra special to start to realize for myself that it’s okay to step into the spotlight, even when it makes you uncomfortable. And that leaders take many forms. And that includes women leaders and disabled leaders. I’m realizing now, decades later that it not only feels lovely to be reocginized for my skill, hard work and leadership, but that it feels validating and heartwarming as well.

And while I’ve never been the type of person concerned with competing with anyone but myself, and more of an actions rather than words person, I’m deciding to allow myself some perspective and to enjoy these kinds of special moments. I’m allowed to reflect and shine, not just focus on the process and progress. And I’m allowed to take up space as a multiply-disabled professional and business woman.

Transformational Change

To learn that I would be the inaugural recipient of the Transformational Change Award (as the letter read) “for your outstanding use of your NSCC education to overcome personal, societal, or systemic challenges to create a dramatic change. As a person living with disabilities that impact your daily life, you’ve used your NSCC education to build your career while making a name for yourself as a changemaker and awareness raiser for equity and inclusion, and we are incredibly proud to recognize your achievements.”

Thank you so much to the thoughtful people who nominated me and supported my nomination, and to the NSCC Selection Committee who undoubtedly had their work cut out for them trying to decide with so many accomplished alumni put forward for the very first NSCC Alumni Awards.

It was especially touching to see the strong support there was for my nomination, from a number of people I respect and admire. When people see you for your leadership, skills, ideas, vision and values, it’s always a meaningful experience — but when they see you and respect who you are at your core, the why you do what you do — that has a deep power. A quiet but profound nod and ackowledgement of your humanity and heart.

With thanks and humility

I’m very grateful to be recognized and thankful for the very thorough, practical and respected education I received as a student all those years ago. I can never say enough about NSCC, and am most definitely a mightly proud alumna! I give back to the College however I can, whether through commitee advising or speaking to their students in various programs. I’m humbled and honoured, thank you NSCC!

“Each of you – the first-ever recipients of our Alumni Awards…from a community of 108,000 alumni, you were selected to be recognized for the outstanding impact you make in your field and community. Thank you for allowing us the honour of recognizing your extraordinary work. Your stories are a powerful reminder of what’s possible when education, determination, hard work and purpose align. Your legacy as the first recipients will continue to inspire.”
NSCC Alumni Relations