The Making it Work program is almost over and it has gone by very fast. I have learned so many things from it. We have learned about assertiveness, anger management, writing resumes, and budgeting among other things. We have helped out at a homeless shelter making beds, serving food to the needy, at a community centre with seniors, at the Children’s Book Bank putting together educational days for children, and helped out at the camps at Cabbagetown Youth Centre. One day we went to Adventureworks! and did the rope courses. And we played lots of games.

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is assisting at CYC with the junior play group. I have been working with 3-year-olds in the morning and 3-5-year-olds in the afternoon. I didn’t have much experience with children that young before. Time goes by so fast with them. They have the same routine every Tuesday, the day I’m there. They arrive and play, then often there is a story, they do a craft project, have snack, go to the gym, and go to the wading pool or park.

I have also been working on a personal goal, which is speaking out and speaking up. Almost every part of the program has been good at helping with that. We do team-building activities, and the community service is all about participation - especially at CYC where you have to be loud to talk with the kids. Stephanie, my team facilitator has kindly taken time to work with me on speaking louder. In particular, the assertiveness workshop that we did was very useful. I believe that I have improved, though of course there is still lots of room for more improvement. I will certainly take the skills I have learned and use them in the future.

Written by Andonia