Gateway Academy

Youth Mentor

September 2018 - August 2019 • Draper, UT

What I liked

I loved working with the youth involved in this program. It was a wonderful experience building relationships of trust with each of them and watching recreation play a major role in those relationships. When I started working with my boys, they planned to go to Nickel Arcade and Oasis (card games) almost every night for their activity. By the time I finished working with them, they were planning and enjoying activities like picking cherries and baking cherry pie, as well as personal training, running 5k's and even knitting. It was amazing to see how trying new recreational activities and hobbies helped them discover themselves and become more developed and able in all aspects of their lives.

What I wish was different

I wish we would have done ore outdoor recreation. There is something very therapeutic about connecting with nature and getting outside and moving your body. Indoor recreation can prove to have many benefits as well, but I wish there had been a better balance at this facility.

Advice

Hold boundaries. The way you hold boundaries with clients and patients will determine the level of respect they will have for you. Always be kind and treat the youth with love and respect and be sure to love them enough to hold those boundaries. It is important for these youth to learn the importance of making and keeping boundaries. The best thing you can do for them is to be a good example for them to model after they leave the program.

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