A year after receiving Collingwood Neighbourhood House’s Community Vision Award, Jillian Tale continues to pursue her passion for early childhood education.
The Community Vision Award, which includes a $750 scholarship, is given to a Grade 12 student from Windermere Secondary School. It aims to support a student with a connection to CNH and/or who has volunteered in the neighbourhood, and is entering a diploma program for early childhood education, community services or community development.
Jillian, who started her Early Childhood Education studies at Douglas College last fall, recently obtained her license to be an Early Childhood Education Assistant. She currently works with infants and toddlers at Port Moody’s The Kids Academy.
“[The award] helped me move forward and pay for the class I needed to get my license,” she said.
Now finishing her first year at Douglas College, Jillian hopes to build transfer credits to Capilano University to do a Bachelor’s, and then a Master’s in Early Childhood Education.
Jillian, who also lives in the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood, credits her time volunteering for the community in helping her figure out what she wanted to do and what her passions were. She started volunteering in the neighbourhood, as well as for Collingwood Neighbourhood House, during high school.
“I found out through volunteering that I actually loved working with children,” she said. “I would do activities like cooking, arts and crafts, lego, and reading with the kids.”
She encourages young people to volunteer for the community as a way to figure out what they want to do in life.
“Get out there as much as you can, as soon as you possibly could. Ask friends if you want to do volunteering together… it was less scary volunteering with my friends. We all figured out what we wanted to do and what our passions were as well. It helps a lot, going out and getting into the community,” Jillian said.
The Community Vision Award is announced annually at CNH’s Annual General Meeting, held in late September.
