Self-professed "mama's girl," Kristyn Jeckells came to Lakeland College looking for something specific.

She was looking for an opportunity to get a head start in a career helping people without having to travel too far from her family in Wainwright and she found what she was looking for in the child and youth care program. 

“I would honestly choose this program again and again,” she explains. “It's amazing and I love the practicums. I chose Lakeland because we get so many practicums and it's really nice work experience.”

Jeckells completed a practicum at Wainwright Catholic Social Service's children's outreach program in the spring. She credits the classwork and case studies she completed in human development and positive behaviour supports for giving her the confidence to succeed in that role and to ensure clients had the supports they needed.

“If I didn't have that baseline, I would have really struggled working with the kids,” she explains. “It helped me to have a greater understanding of where they are at, so I could meet them there.

“It was so cool to develop relationships with the kids because they all develop and communicate differently. We had a couple of kids who were non-verbal so to communicate with them was just amazing. Hands down, it was the best experience ever.”

Jeckells' practicum experience led to a summer position with Catholic Social Services, with adult clients affected with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. She says her favourite part of the practicum and work experience was being trusted with hands-on tasks and working directly with clients.

Jeckells credits the experiential nature of classes at Lakeland as well as the dedication of her teachers with giving her the confidence to excel at her practicums.

“I think the instructors here definitely make the program,” she says. “They're so understanding and willing to help. They bend over backwards for us. We tell them what we want to do and they make it work for us.”

Before Jeckells completes the diploma program, she will have finished four practicum placements. After graduating this year, she plans to continue her studies, hoping to work in victim services.