Cristy de Sousa PontesCounselor in Training

The YMCA of San Francisco University Camp YMCA

Summer 2015

Internship Info❏ University Camp YMCA.❏ Hamilton- Novato, CA.❏ 12 paid staff, 8 interns for the camp, plus 6

teachers. 26 people total. ❏ We are a volunteer mission-driven

organization charged with building strong kids, strong families and strong communities by enriching the lives of all people in spirit, mind and body.

❏ The goal that the Y focuses is the Youth Development, Healthy Lifestyles and Social Responsibility.

Education ❏ What it takes to be successful at the YMCA

❏ You need to be patience❏ Have energy❏ Be respectful❏ Have communication and be understanding

❏ Types of education and certification needed ❏ Early childhood Education (ece) up to 12

units ❏ CPR and First Aid

❏ Common Salary ❏ Depends on the experience and location ❏ It can starts at $10.50 per hour❏ Significant amount of experience can earn up

to $16 per hour ❏ Alternative jobs for the field of Human services

❏ Child care Worker ❏ Counselor ❏ Social service Assistant ❏ Social worker and Case manager

My Role❏ Role and Responsibilities

❏ Make sure the children are safe

❏ Give instructions to games ❏ Supervise activities ❏ Give support to the other

counselors ❏ Be the role model

Purpose ❏ To gain experience upon working with people

with different ages ❏ Learn more about the area of Education ❏ Work on leadership abilities❏ Be more interacted ❏ Improve communication

Accomplishments ❏ Internship accomplishments

❏ progress with leadership skills by being able to lead the children with their activities

❏ became friends with co-workers and the kids ❏ Arrive before time❏ kept all my attention on the kids

❏ Things my supervisor might say about me ❏ That I am reliable ❏ That I am caring ❏ That I know what I am doing and takes

directions well.

Skills Learned

❏ Acting with diligence has help me with my internship because I often times asked clarifying questions about what we are doing next, if the counselors needed my help with any other thing and how to handle situations which was necessary.

❏ I learned how important was to be dedicated, because when I was working with the children they wanted me to play games with them and I was right on willing to interact with them.

My Successes ❏ I learn that working with kids can be fun, but

also very tired, you have to be very patient and be able to listen and I think I work that out, because my supervisor didn’t complain about me and I often ask if she liked my work.

❏ I had a productive summer, I meet new people, improve some of my skill, got to work with some amazing kids and teach them Portuguese, did work very well but they remember how to say hi.

Areas of GrowthMy weakness was with

communication, because sometimes I can be a little too shy, I knew I needed to work on it and I feel like I did because I ask a lot question and talk to all the kids that I was working with I asked for help when I needed it, I still think I can work on it a bit more.

Also I improve on remembering peoples name, but the end of the first week I was able to know most of their names.

What’s Next?❏ Get a internship in the health

department.❏ Future plan is to become a

Orthodontist ❏ My internship did not help

me get close to my long term goal, first because to become a orthodontist take a little longer then a teacher assistant and require more level of education.

Advice ● Don’t be afraid to interact with

the kids.● Be Positive ● Be the role model