Working at Pacific Community Resources Society as a Site Support worker for evening tutoring programs for Vancouver Downtown Eastside kids is such a privilege!! 💚 📗 📝

✨ Here are my 8 highlights so far:

🌟 1. The job isn't just ensuring the youths have food security for the night, signing them in and tidying up. It is also about the relationships you build! Previously when I was Student Council President at Britannia Secondary school I got an amazing chance to connect with so many students and now they come to Pathways Program to find me for help in life, academics and applying for scholarships! Additionally many of my kids from working at The Writers Exchange who've grown up come to this program too! They say, "Hey I know you but now you have blonde hair!!". Adorable. It's so rewarding to nurture, advocate and uplift these kids to their fullest potential.
🌟 2. Work inspires me to continue to do good work. Supporting dozens of students in my personal time! From talking about scholarships, helping them write scholarship essays, giving pep talks, life advice and then hearing the amazing news that they won life changing awards to pursue their dreams.
🌟 3. Building important relationships with tutors and staff. Enjoying a warm cup of caffeine free tea is with your volunteers and getting to know each other is so important. Happy relationships with volunteers and staff= happy supported students students! 🎉
🌟 4. Volunteer appreciation week! We thanked and cheered our amazing volunteers with special personal name tags, fun stationary, cards, and a huge thank you letter with all of the high schoolers messages. There would be no tutoring program without our brilliant tutors.
🌟 5. Pink Shirt Day was a success! My amazing Manager and Program Facilitator Jaclyn organize a spread of snacks, Infograph's, colouring activities and celebration to raise awareness on anti bullying. Super awesome to help set up and encourage kids to start the discussion on spreading kindness.
🌟 6. The therapeutic cleaning after the storm of students working hard to complete their homework, eat snacks and sign out for the night. I never though washing colourful dishes in a soapy sink would be so relaxing.
🌟 7. Some nights I become a tutor too!! A youth likes to visit me at programs for homework help because we had a teacher in common in high school. Although we had the same teacher, I didn't take the same course as him but if he's most comfortable asking me for help then I am happy to!! Some nights I can be teaching fractions and other's I can pull out my International Baccalaureate Biology class to use.
🌟 8. Watching the kids come in tired after school, stressed about homework, and leaving with their belly's full, their peace and clarity of mind from completing their homework with help and and big smile on their face.

Ahahaha "Have an amazing night! Get home safe kids!" ❤️

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