Brittany Ponniah

Why did you decide to take HLTH 481?

When looking at what courses I wanted to take for the winter term, I realized that in order to graduate I had to either complete a thesis or a community engagement course. Finding out that I was able to engage in a community engagement course caught my attention right away as volunteering is something I am very passionate about! I

I thought it would be a fantastic way to end off my final year at the University of Waterloo as I’d be able to give back to the community but also gain experience and knowledge that may better my personal and professional development!

What community partner are you volunteering with and why did you decide to volunteer with them?

I am volunteering with a nonprofit organization called Tutorax where the primary focus is to help children whose families have recently moved to Canada adapt to their new lifestyle, education and more specifically the Ontario School Curriculum. This company can be seen as a tutoring organization but also a peer mentorship program!

I chose this organization has it holds a dear meaning to me. Growing up with parents who have moved to Canada in the mid 80s always made me think about how they had some difficulties adapting to a new environment. Raising three children with a traditional mindset was an important goal of theirs but they also knew that they had to adapt a westernized mindset in order for their children to get the best of both worlds.

Helping those adjust to this new life and specifically helping children is something that I believe I can make a huge difference in. Being able to tutor children in different subjects and even be someone who they can talk to about their personal problems such as fitting in at school, gives me the opportunity to provide advice that I found helpful while I was growing up.

What kind of work are you doing within the organization?

I tutor about six different children on a weekly basis in different subjects such as Math, English and Science. My position at this organization is not only a tutor but also a mentor. I not only let children open up to me about different parts of their lives but I help and guide them to be on the right path. I provide advice to those when needed and I always make sure that my students know I’m not only their tutor but I am also a friend.

Besides helping students, I also take time to help the families out whether that means sitting down and having a conversation, providing advice or helping them complete some tasks within the community. Overall, my position is to help these families have a smooth transition into this society.

What do you like most about this experience?

What I love most about this experience is being able to help families that may need assistance. Everyone needs help sometimes but many families may be scared to ask. Working in this organization has allowed me to mentor children in the best way I can and also help parents and guardians to the best of my ability.

Working with families who have recently immigrated to Canada has allowed me to understand how thankful I am for the struggle my parents went through and how I am able to give back by helping those who may be experiencing the same problems.

How do you think it will help you in the future?

I believe this experience will help me in the future as my future career choice of becoming an occupational therapist involves knowing how to help and take care of people. Being a part of this opportunity will help me understand the basic necessities and skills that are needed to pursue a career within this field.

I also believe that volunteering in a unique organization gave me a better understanding of myself. Not only have I learned more about my interests, likings, passions and skills, but I also was able to create an overall foundation for my future career success, which includes my current accomplishments and future goals.

Being able to connect with these employees and with the families that are in need helped me understand that I want my future to consist of me helping others in any way that’s possible. I will continue volunteering for many more years to come and hopefully I will be able to do that in different areas around the Greater Toronto Area. I truly believe that helping others better themselves and their lives is how I will leave my mark in society.