Right now I am just finishing up my last few classes of my undergrad, but I can't wait to enter the workforce. I have known I want to work in a helping profession since I was in elementary school. Next month I will be walking the stage at Mount Royal University to receive my Bachelor of Arts in English, which is the first stepping stone in my long-term plan to attend grad school for further study. In the next few years, I hope to acquire some great work experience and see more of the world (I have a pretty strong travel bug. ) before I settle into a masters program for child and youth care at the University of Victoria. I have lived in Calgary my whole life, but believe that, in my heart, I am a west coast girl. I have been engaged in the arts since my early childhood, and I still have strong passions for music, reading and writing, and visual art. As I have grown into an adult, I have come to lie somewhere between an introvert and an extrovert: I value my quiet, introspective time, but I also love to be silly, be social, and have fun. I am very close with my family and friends, and try to emphasize the importance of healthy, strong relationships in my everyday life. I would love to foster more of these kinds of relationships with a wonderful family; though I know I will spend my time primarily with your children, I would also love to get to know you, their parents or guardians, on a comfortable level.

I have been working with children almost continuously since the summer of 2006, when I began my first regular babysitting job. The joy that I have experienced as a result of watching these two little girls grow and learn has prompted me to pursue varying positions in the childcare field. I have been employed at daycares, summer camps, a preschool, a family photography studio, an indoor playground, and a drop-in child minding service. I even worked a Christmas season as one of Santa's Helpers at the mall. I feel privileged to have had so many opportunities to interact with children from many different backgrounds, especially because I believe that so much can be learned from sharing in the experiences of these young lives. Professionally, I strongly value an emphasis on play and experiential learning. One of the most important parts of working with children is, I believe, constantly searching for "teachable moments" and encouraging children towards healthy, safe, and developmentally appropriate learning opportunities. I am excited to be returning to work with children after a brief hiatus, and I am looking forward to learning and growing alongside your family.

Though my degree is primarily focused on English literature, I had the opportunity to take a number of child-related courses throughout my university education; these include children's literature, psychology, education, and even a topics course on learning disabilities. I have a special interest in child development, which I plan to apply to a graduate program in child and youth care in the coming few years. In August 2011, I completed the online course for the Alberta Child Development Worker (formerly Level One) certification. I also possess up-to-date First Aid and CPR.