Family inspires student to work with youth

Rima Abduljawad (centre), who works at the South Central Youth Centre in Burnaby, says it was important to her to find a career where she would be happy going to work every day.

Rima Abduljawad has seen close-up the difference a youth care worker can make.

When she, her three sisters and mother moved to Canada, their father stayed in the Middle East so he could work and continue to support the family. The transition was difficult, particularly for her youngest sister, who started meeting with an outreach worker at her high school.

"Seeing the impact he had on my sister had a huge impact on me. He took her under his wing and he was also able to explain the situation to my mom so that she could understand it," says Abduljawad. 

The more Abduljawad spoke with her sister's outreach worker, she realized she had found her calling. Her dad had always told her to find a career where she would be happy going to work every day. She knew the child and youth care field was it. The outreach worker became a mentor to Abduljawad - when he told her how well-respected the Child and Youth Care Counsellor Program at Douglas is, her decision was made.

Abduljawad graduated from the two-year diploma program in Spring, 2009. She began the new part-time Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care (BA CYC) Program at Douglas in the Fall.

A full-time BA CYC Program has been offered since 2007. However, a combination of high demand for full-time seats and the realities of many students who juggle school with work and family made a part-time option a must, says BA CYC instructor and program coordinator Bruce Hardy.

For this year's Fall semester, the demand for the full-time program "was overwhelming," says Hardy - 95 people applied for 35 seats.  

"Not all students have the luxury of going to school full-time. If a student works 30 hours a week, their relationships with friends and family, and their health is often affected. A part-time option is more workable for a lot of people," he adds.

Part-time students may complete their degree in as soon as three years by studying for three semesters per year. They may also take longer if they wish.

Abduljawad says once she completed the diploma program, which she had done full-time while working nights, she realized how exhausted she was.  "I didn't realize the impact of being overworked until I had a break. It's made me appreciate the concept of self-care more."

Self-care is something that is emphasized in both the degree and diploma programs, so it was a significant lesson for Abduljawad. She is now better able to balance her studies with her job at the South Central Youth Centre in Burnaby. And most importantly, she has more quality time with her family, the people who inspired her to work with youth.

To learn more about the BA CYC Program, attend a free information session on Thursday, November 19 at 5pm in room 2201 at the New Westminster Campus. If you're unable to attend, check the information session schedule for further dates.

Links:

Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care
Child and Youth Care Counsellor Diploma Program
Information sessions
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