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Hello My name is Hagar Elmady. I am A first year student at Ryerson University currently persuing an undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Care

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Why CYC?

I have always wanted to make a difference in the world. I was born in Egypt, growing up in a developing country was difficult. I saw many children and youth growing up with clear mental and physical disabilities that prevented them from doing many activities and getting in trouble for doing some actions. I never understood why they would constantly have episodes of abnormalities and was consistently told “their parents never raised them right”. When I came to Canada, my perspective changed drastically. Learning that it is okay to have these episodes, it is okay to take some time off for one’s mental health, learning that there is an actual scientific and psychological reason why those children behaved the way they did, made me want to go more and more in-depth of learning more about the field. My relative was recently diagnosed by a psychologist with autism. I wanted to do everything possible to help him in the way he needs. Unfortunately due to the lack of special education programs in his current school, I took it into my own hands to study and practice as well as perfect this course to help him.  I chose child and youth care because I would like to work with children and help them as well as learn from them. Hopefully, this would allow me to the end goal of becoming an educational psychologist back home and allow me to not only make a difference in helping children and youth, but also teach others whether their parents or individuals who are interested in this field the same way I was taught in the program.

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Challenges?

In the CYC field, I have not experienced as many challenges as I thought I would. In CYC I have learned that there are not only certain behaviours and “treatments” that one should portray towards a child, but there are also the psychological as well as physical aspects of behaviour and development. In the CYC program, I have faced the major challenges of learning when and how to use these treatments as well as implicate the appropriate behaviours when working with a child/youth. I believe that the most struggle or challenge that I have faced while in this major, would be determining the right tools as to what the child requires. Aside from the knowledge aspect, another challenge I have faced in CYC is understanding the rights that both children, youth and parents have in Canada. Growing up in a different country there wasn’t any rules or rights to benefit the child/youth’s well-being therefore coming to Canada and learning about those rights and liberties that children should have, was just difficult to practice. Finally, I feel like the major challenge that I am currently facing is trying to mentally prepare myself for the internship that I would be doing. My worries revolve mainly around whether or not what I’m doing is right or if there is anything else that should be done to make a situation better. I have worked with children before in summer camps, but having a placement- although it’s a learning experience- is still in real life with children who may be going through serious struggles. Therefore I believe my major challenge would be mentally preparing myself to do great work.

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Accomplishments

In the CYC field of work, the thing I want to accomplish/achieve is success. I am aware that Canada is a country with rights and opportunities, but my goal is much bigger than that. I want to help those who need help and be able to enhance and improve my skills as well. I would like others to see this field of practice and want to learn more about it and study it. Children are the future of this world, therefore if everyone receives the support and help they truly need, then maybe they could partake in maybe less criminal rates around the world. What I wish to accomplish or achieve in the CYC program is to become successful and understanding. By the end of this journey, I want to become an educational psychologist or something related in that field that would allow me to work in a school-based environment and provide assistance and care to children who face learning or any sort of disability. My main accomplishment in the program is to be able to recognize what every child requires as well as be able to assess the right materials/ support that the youth and children should have. In the CYC aspect, I would like to improve my skills and knowledge to be able to help those in need when they need it. I believe that an internship would allow me to gain knowledge and understanding through hands-on experiences. While going through with this program I hope to attain the right responsibilities and abilities to be successful in both my internship and future. By the end of this journey, I would have liked to provide any sort of assistance in programs related to helping serve children and youth whether that be in a school-based environment or hospital environment and so on.