SuccessBeyond

I decided to pursue the Child & Youth Care advanced diploma program at Seneca because I always had an interest in the field of community services. Being a mother of three young children at the time, the program provided the perfect balance.

My experience at Seneca was life-changing. I met many new people and I made lifelong friendships. The classes were practical and provided a space where learning was reciprocated between students and professors. I enjoyed sharing as much as I enjoyed learning. The classroom brought a wide variety of diverse individuals from different age groups as well as lived experiences and education. The professors brought to the classroom a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field. Although Seneca provided teaching materials that met the learning standard of the ministry, for me, it was the experience shared by the professors that stood out the most.

My most memorable experience at Seneca was taking my graduation pictures. With the Child & Youth Care program being three years, it was a long and hard road to success. Taking my graduation pictures solidified things were coming together as they should. It prepared me for the graduation ceremony which was the celebration of my accomplishments and future success.

My decision to continue my education at Seneca after completing my diploma was influenced by one of my teachers during my last year. I truly admired her skill set. When I enquired about her education, I learned that prior to obtaining her teaching degree, she also went to school to become a child and youth worker. I wanted to continue my education because I knew that doing so would create avenues of endless opportunities.

I heard about it through the Seneca website and the Academic Pathways team. I also met with a Pathways adviser to discuss my education options.

The Child & Youth Care program prepared me for the Honours Bachelor of Community Mental Health degree by not only providing credit exemptions for courses, but it also preparing me with the basis of knowledge that I needed to understand in complex theory courses.

The transition from a diploma to a degree required a lot more understanding of theories around complex topics such as substance abuse. The degree program offered a wide range of studies that align with the diploma courses. With that said, it was like building on top of what I had already learned.

The advantage of having both a diploma and a degree is that your knowledge is enhanced, and it provides me with a variety of career options.

Don’t give it a second thought. It is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It qualifies you to understand broader and more complex topics. Your diploma provides the baseline of knowledge, but your degree provides you with the knowledge of expertise in your field.

My tip for current students or professionals on how to balance work, school and life is to set a goal and put your focus on that goal. To achieve balance, you understand your priorities and what you can sacrifice. I couldn’t have achieved my goals without the two. With my focus, I knew my priority was getting my education, so I made the necessary sacrifices to get there.

In April 2021, shortly after graduating from the honours program, I attained employment as a Child Protection Worker with the Sarnia-Lambton Children’s Aid Society. I relocated to Sarnia, about 290 kilometers southwest of Toronto, with my children and recently celebrated my oneyear anniversary with the organization.

My short-term plan for the future is to acquire five years of experience as a child protection worker. In the long-term, I want to acquire my master of education and become a teacher.