Pursuing a career that follows her passion

by Heidi Riley

Tammy Rix is one of three winners of the Phyllis Pitre Bursary for Adult Learners for 2024.

“Having run my own business and working with several non-profit organizations, I have experienced the challenges of finding work that truly aligns with my passions,” says Tammy.

Tammy has decided to make a major career shift, and is now studying acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, with plans to open a business providing effective and holistic health solutions to her community in West Prince.

Inspired by her personal experiences with alternative health methods like yoga and meditation, her goal is to enhance the quality of life for clients, using acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.

“I aim to integrate my background in business with my passion for holistic health practices to create a meaningful and fulfilling career.”

Education & Training

In preparation for her new venture, she completed a six-week online course in Ayurveda Core Practices in March 2024. Ayurveda, a healing science, takes a holistic approach to health designed to help people live long, healthy, and balanced lives. In September, she began a two-year online program with the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Previous education and work experience

She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Operations from DeVry Institute of Technology. Over the years, she has taken training and education courses and workshops in leadership, life skills, and business management. She has worked at a number of community-based nonprofit organizations in West Prince.

“When full-time employment became hard to find, I decided to open a consulting company and worked on contracts with a number of clients for about 13 years.”

In 2017, she became involved in helping O’Leary win the Canadian Kraft Hockeyville competition. After a year of going through the competitive process, the O’Leary Community Sports Centre was named the winner, and received $100,000 in arena upgrades.

When a job as the Executive Director of the West Prince Chamber of Commerce came available, her business background helped her to become the selected candidate. “I knew the business community, and I’m a people person. I had a lot of fun in that position, and I had a great experience networking with other chambers on the Island and across Canada. I loved supporting people to grow their businesses.”

Health challenges lead to a change in direction

“When the pandemic came, I was feeling physically burned out,” says Tammy. “I had some other health issues, including exhaustion, vertigo, anemia, and pain all over my body. I still had the responsibility to follow what was going on in the world and worked long hours to bring the right information to my members.

“As much as I loved my job, walking up stairs and sitting down for most of the day was not working for me. There was no sense staying in my job if I was feeling physically exhausted. I needed a new direction.”

Help from Career Development Services

Tammy visited the O’Leary Career Development Services (CDS) office to ask for advice. “Herbs, nutrition, and disease prevention were always a big interest in my life, so we looked at different education options in the holistic field.”

CDS suggested she look into the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, which offers courses in nutrition education. Tammy talked to a representative of the college and a graduate who now has a business in eastern PEI before deciding to enroll.

CDS also helped her apply to Skills PEI for a grant to help cover 70 percent of tuition costs.

“Being over 50 years old, I was afraid I was too old to go back to school. But it turns out that there are several people in the program who are older than I am. That made me feel better.”

She hopes to start her new business after she graduates in fall 2026. “I am keeping my options open and I’m doing research on different career paths I could take with this designation. I would love to work in a collaborative practice so I could gain more experience and learn from other professionals in a setting where we can work together as a team towards our patients’ wellness.”

Adapting to change

Tammy says the many different jobs she has had has made her feel able to adapt to new situations and use her skills in a new way. “With every new work experience, my confidence grew. I still get nervous in new situations, but I always feel better when I help someone else. And I hope that feeling will still be there when I open my new business and help my clients.

“Recognizing my tendency to experience stress, I am committed to applying the principles of self-care and stress management that I have learned through yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda. By addressing this challenge proactively, I will be better equipped to maintain my well-being and achieve a balanced and fulfilling career in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.”

Advice to others considering a career change

“Don’t rush into a decision. Take your time, do research, and speak to people in the field to find out what a typical day is like. It took me a year and a half to research and make my new career choice. Ensure it’s the right choice for you, that you’re passionate about it, and that it doesn’t feel like work.”