Sheva is a graduate from the MSc Child & Youth Care Studies programme at the University of Strathclyde
Tell us a little bit about your background..
When I was born in Uttarakhand, north India, my parents were running a small orphanage for boys from poverty-stricken and leprosy backgrounds. Thus, I grew up with multiple family members and ‘brothers’ that I called my own. We lived on land that we were cultivating from a dry riverbed to farmland with cows and crops. Many of my childhood memories circulate around the task of picking up stones and making piles of them to be taken away. With education in our area being sparse, my mother started a school of her own with five of the youngest children around (including my two older siblings). As this home and school grew, she would often put me in a role that would have me taking care of or teaching the younger children. This ignited my love for working with children and youth.
After graduating high school, I completed a Child and Youth Work Diploma through Humber College in Toronto, Canada. I was able to experience the western worlds approach to care in settings such as the Sick Kids Hospital (working with the substance abuse department and eating disorders), schools, and residential units for teenagers. I was hired as a CYC practitioner while in college and then spent nearly a decade working at a residential unit formerly known as the Hincks Dellcrest Centre (today it is known as Sick Kids Centre for Community Mental Health). While in this role, I lost a teenager to suicide and hence, I endeavored to be trained as a suicide interventions trainer (Applied Suicide Interventions Skills Training). Since 2013, I have been training a myriad of people, including (but not limited to), educational staff, community members, hospital employees, and subway operators. In 2019, I was blessed to be hired by Mohawk College as a full-time faculty in the Child and Youth Care program and have also been serving as a Board Member of the Child and Youth Care Education Accreditation Board since early 2023.
Why did you decide to study Child & Youth Care Studies at university?
The first time I heard about the program was when one of my colleagues, who had been a former teacher of mine, spoke about it and insisted that I would be a good fit. I had initially accepted this as kind words, as all I had was a college diploma. However, she persevered and convinced me to apply regardless. I held her thoughts in high regard, so with her encouragement, I applied. I am grateful for her faith in me as I would not be in the full-time teaching position, I am in today, without my Strathclyde Masters in Child and Youth Studies. Furthermore, it has given me a wider and more extensive lens to use in my role as a Board Director for the CYCEAB.
What has been the highlight of your course?
One of the experiences that stuck with me, and impacted how I teach, was being able to experience Video Enhancement Reflective Practice (VERP). Put simply, this process includes using video recording to engage in an in-depth investigation of the self, with the aim to strengthen communication and attunement skills with others. Having the opportunity to experience this process, and engaging in meaningful conversations about the learning, was impactful to say the least. In fact, it led to a remodel of the counseling curriculum a colleague and I teach, to align with VERP. The feedback from the students regarding these changes confirmed that the remodel was positively impactful.
What advice would you give to someone considering studying your course?
First and foremost, be mindful that the course is designed for people who are already working with children, youth, and families. This work can be quite challenging, though equally worthwhile. Just remember to find a pace that will serve you best to succeed in this pursuit.
Tell us a bit about your current job role..
Currently I work for Mohawk College in Ontario Canada as a full-time faculty in the Child and Youth Care program. I am also a Master Trainer in Applied Suicide Interventions Training (ASIST, LivingWorks.net), and a member of the Board of Directors for the Child and Youth Care Education and Accreditation Board (CYCEAB).
What is the best part of your job?
As a Child and Youth care educator, I have thoroughly enjoyed, and felt honored, to a play a small part in equipping our next generation of Child and Youth Care professionals. I love that I am always learning alongside my students as a ‘facilitator of knowledge’, rather than always the ‘subject expert’. I love challenging the students to question the status quo, myself, others, and- most importantly- question themselves.
What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far?
The most memorable moment for me, in my journey of being a teacher, is the first time I got an email from a student that highlighted the impact I had on their life. Up until that point, and for a short while afterwards, I was struggling with ‘imposter syndrome’ and marveled at the fact that I was trusted to lead and train groups of students with no other ‘real professional’ around. The moments that I have had to talk to students, hear about their journeys, their growth, their courage, and resilience through incredible hardships, have remained with me as some of my most cherished moments.
What are your ambitions for the future?
My dissertation work in the Strathclyde program involved investigating the role of Child and Youth Care educators in supporting student mental health. That experience has led me to become quite passionate about young adult mental health and this is a path that I want to continue on. My ambitions for the future include creating more psychological wellness trainings for young people, taking my suicide work into places with a lack of access to such resources, and one day writing a book.
Any final points, or words of wisdom?
I would not have the role I have today- a role that cherish greatly- without having achieved my Masters degree. I would not have pursued this degree had I had not listened to the advice and encouragement of the mentors and teachers around me. A word of advice; surround yourself with people you admire and revere and heed the words of your mentors and elders.