Gursimran Mann’s change of heart put her on a path to helping others
Gursimran Mann thought Douglas College would be a two-year pit stop on her way to university.
But after discovering a program she loved, everything changed. Now, the former psychology student is completing her Bachelor of Arts in Child and has already landed a job. and Youth Care (CYC) at Douglas, and has already landed a job.
“When I started at Douglas, I planned to become a clinical counsellor, but then I started to volunteer more with youth and children, and I had a change of heart,” she says. “I realized I wanted to pursue a career focusing on youth.”
The CYC program prepares graduates for careers working with youth in a variety of settings, including front-line positions with addiction services, youth outreach and in schools.
Virtually 100 percent of CYC grads find work within three months of receiving their credential. Gursimran, though still a student, is already working with the City of Surrey, where she is part of an outreach team that connects youth with services the city offers, as well as supervising youth drop-in programs at recreation centres.
Her new job is the perfect place to apply the skills she learned during her CYC work placements at an elementary school, as well as at DIVERSEcity Community Resource Society, where she helped facilitate spring-break camps for youth that included activities such as yoga – a personal favourite of Gursimran’s.
During her placements, she worked with kids every day, gaining valuable experience and connections in her field.
“The CYC program gave me the knowledge to work with youth in a variety of settings,” she says. “And my practicum experience was incredibly helpful. I learned so much at my placements and gained a wealth of hands-on experience.”
Once she has her degree, Gursimran plans to get her Master’s Degree in Counselling at Simon get her Master’s Degree in Counselling at Simon Fraser University or the University of Victoria.
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