School District No. 73 After School Sports and Arts Initiative (ASSAI)
From October 2024 to March 2025, I had the opportunity to be part of School District No. 73’s After School Sports and Arts Initiative program (ASSAI) as a Person of Rapport in two art programs at a local elementary school. The most valuable part of this experience for me was the connections I was able to make with the students who attended the programs. It reinforced for me what I love most about teaching – the opportunity to build relationships and create a safe and caring space for students to learn and grow.
Kamloops Alliance Church
In 2021 I began working at Kamloops Alliance Church as a Children’s Ministry Coordinator. My time working at KAC was incredibly influential in my journey to becoming a teacher. While working in this position I gained practical knowledge about building relationships with children and families, communicating with parents, and being flexible and adapting to meet current needs. More than that, I was able to lean into and grow my passion for teaching and creating a safe and welcoming learning environment for children. In this role, my “teacherness” was also affirmed by co-workers, parents, and volunteers. I resigned from my position in July 2024 to pursue my Bachelor of Education, but I will always cherish my time working at KAC.
Travel Experience
As I mentioned in my biography, one of my other passions is travelling. In 2019, I embarked on a month-long solo adventure to six countries in Europe. In August 2023, I spent three weeks driving across Canada from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Kamloops. Most recently, I returned to Europe and this time had the opportunity to visit eight countries! Two of the greatest lessons travelling has me are how to problem-solve when things inevitably go wrong and to focus my energy on what is within my control rather than dwelling on what I cannot change. As teachers, there is so much that we do not have the power to change – students will bring things into our classroom that we have no control over. However, what I can do is ensure that my classroom is a safe and welcoming space for all students and that every student I interact with knows that they matter.
