Saying "yes" to personal growth

A double major in psychology and social development studies (SDS), Abby wasn’t afraid to say “yes” to an opportunity that helped her grow as a person.

Calgary calls

In the winter of 2021, Abby received a job offer from a community home for adults with developmental disabilities. This was the chance a lifetime, but there was one big drawback — the opportunity was all the way in Calgary, Alberta, several thousand kilometres away from her life in Ontario.

Abby’s parents advised her to “enjoy the world while you’re still young.” They were supportive about this new adventure and gave her the confidence to make a decision. “I was nervous about the long distance. What If I get there and it’s terrible?” In the end, she went for it.

The position consisted of taking care of and spending time with adults with disabilities, called “core members.” She organized social actives for the group, made them breakfast, and assisted them with taking medications and bathing. It was also about helping others and bettering their lives in some way.

Abby wanted to bring new energy into the community. She learned that the core members really enjoyed music, so many of the activities she planned, like “Music Bingo” and “Just Dance” were infused with the joy of music and the community loved it.  

But some of the adults were harder than others to build relationships with. “Poppy wasn’t very welcoming to new people,” says Abby. But after observing everyone’s different personalities, she realized that humour was the way to Poppy’s heart. “With Poppy, if you make a joke, she’ll laugh and we’ll be good.”

The job in Calgary gave Abby the chance to apply concepts she learned from her classes into a real-world setting. For example, she knew from her SDS 355: Resilience and Social Support course that having a positive relationship with people in a community can bolster emotional well-being and she was able to see that impact first-hand. She also took an American Sign Language (ASL) course, which turned out to be very helpful, since one of the members really enjoyed using ASL to communicate.

A résumé of helping

This wasn’t Abby’s only experience helping others. Previously, she worked for a day camp for adults with developmental disabilities, a homeless shelter for youth, and as an Arts Student Ambassador at University of Waterloo where she helped high school students learn about university. “Being involved is a great way to explore what your interests are and find what you want to do in the future,” she says.

Likewise, saying yes to opportunities, even when you’re unsure, can lead to rewarding adventure. And that personal growth is what being a university student is all about.