Joining the newcomers program has been one of the best decisions I have ever made as a plan for the summer. Not only have I made new friends here but I have also gained more knowledge about myself as a person. I have also gained more experience in the terms of speaking in front of a big group and believing in myself to face new challenge.
Before I joined the new comers program, I was part of the park dale newcomers youth committee. From that position, I received the opportunity to be a mentor in the new comer’s youth summer program. I felt lucky knowing that I didn’t require an interview or n orientation to be a mentor although I also thought I deserved the position as I have been loyal to the Parkdale newcomers youth committee. Once I decided to be a part of the summer program, I was already excited to be a mentor for the participants. I knew I would have to face a new challenge but I was ready for it. The desire and the excitement that I had to be a mentor was the reason joining the program. Another reason is also because I knew I needed to gain experience in terms of communicating with people, performing different activities that required certain skills and mainly being a leader.
During the first session, I was not sure exactly what to expect. I knew we were going to learn but I didn’t know the format or the structure of the session and that made me more excited. Before each session, I imagined myself being in the room with a group of participants and mentors. I think that gave me the motivation and the confidence to offer as much as I can to make session worthwhile. However, it didn’t work as I planned for the first session because the enthusiasm and the excitement was missing. The positive aspect of the session was that I got to meet a lot of new people. Besides the mentors, most of the participants were new to Canada so I had never seen them around the neighborhood.
One of the interesting things that I remember about the summer program is presenting in front of the group. As a mentor, I had to talk about my view and opinion on peer networking. I was happy to share my own thoughts about the subjects because I wanted the newcomers to learn something new. I was also glad that the other mentors also share their opinion so that I can also learn something too. Although I was tempted to talk about peer networking, I also felt little nervous presenting in front of the small crowd. This was one of the challenges that I faced during the program and I m sure the other mentors h d similar challenges.
The best session that we had in the summer program was about art and expression. The other sessions were also helpful as I gained more knowledge about peer networking and Toronto. However, when we and Ugen the guest to talk about at and expression, I not only learned something but also had fun doing the activities. The way he broke down the subject of art and expressing it made me think deeper about how essential art can be. It was one of the most memorable moments that I shared with the mentors and the participants.
Besides the weekly session the outdoor trips that we went to were also a lot of fun. The one trip I ‘ll remember for a long time is when we went to sarauren park to observe the foods brought by the farmers and to explore the wonderful varieties of food produced by them. Going to that trip gave me so much knowledge about Parkdale community and their views on organic food and food that are packaged and sold in supermarket. I learned to respect the farmers for their hard work to produce pure and healthy food and travel great distance to bring their products. From all the knowledge that I gained, I finally had the desire to be more conscious about my health and be more hygienic .as the mentor for the summer program, I consider myself having enough experience living in this county to teach other new comers about the living standards and about the different places in the city. However I m still a youth. As teenager we are always underestimated in terms of our potential to be successful in life or even accomplish something significant. This does not mean that we are incapable of doing something important such as making chance in a community or being leaders because we keep proving the people who do not trust wrong. By being in this summer program and the new comers youth committee, I believe that I am making a change in the community and I am being a leader for the other youth. Therefore, I am glad I had the opportunity to be part of the program and show what we as youth can accomplish.
Norbu Tsering
17 yrs,
Grade 12 (PCI)
Before I joined the new comers program, I was part of the park dale newcomers youth committee. From that position, I received the opportunity to be a mentor in the new comer’s youth summer program. I felt lucky knowing that I didn’t require an interview or n orientation to be a mentor although I also thought I deserved the position as I have been loyal to the Parkdale newcomers youth committee. Once I decided to be a part of the summer program, I was already excited to be a mentor for the participants. I knew I would have to face a new challenge but I was ready for it. The desire and the excitement that I had to be a mentor was the reason joining the program. Another reason is also because I knew I needed to gain experience in terms of communicating with people, performing different activities that required certain skills and mainly being a leader.
During the first session, I was not sure exactly what to expect. I knew we were going to learn but I didn’t know the format or the structure of the session and that made me more excited. Before each session, I imagined myself being in the room with a group of participants and mentors. I think that gave me the motivation and the confidence to offer as much as I can to make session worthwhile. However, it didn’t work as I planned for the first session because the enthusiasm and the excitement was missing. The positive aspect of the session was that I got to meet a lot of new people. Besides the mentors, most of the participants were new to Canada so I had never seen them around the neighborhood.
One of the interesting things that I remember about the summer program is presenting in front of the group. As a mentor, I had to talk about my view and opinion on peer networking. I was happy to share my own thoughts about the subjects because I wanted the newcomers to learn something new. I was also glad that the other mentors also share their opinion so that I can also learn something too. Although I was tempted to talk about peer networking, I also felt little nervous presenting in front of the small crowd. This was one of the challenges that I faced during the program and I m sure the other mentors h d similar challenges.
The best session that we had in the summer program was about art and expression. The other sessions were also helpful as I gained more knowledge about peer networking and Toronto. However, when we and Ugen the guest to talk about at and expression, I not only learned something but also had fun doing the activities. The way he broke down the subject of art and expressing it made me think deeper about how essential art can be. It was one of the most memorable moments that I shared with the mentors and the participants.
Besides the weekly session the outdoor trips that we went to were also a lot of fun. The one trip I ‘ll remember for a long time is when we went to sarauren park to observe the foods brought by the farmers and to explore the wonderful varieties of food produced by them. Going to that trip gave me so much knowledge about Parkdale community and their views on organic food and food that are packaged and sold in supermarket. I learned to respect the farmers for their hard work to produce pure and healthy food and travel great distance to bring their products. From all the knowledge that I gained, I finally had the desire to be more conscious about my health and be more hygienic .as the mentor for the summer program, I consider myself having enough experience living in this county to teach other new comers about the living standards and about the different places in the city. However I m still a youth. As teenager we are always underestimated in terms of our potential to be successful in life or even accomplish something significant. This does not mean that we are incapable of doing something important such as making chance in a community or being leaders because we keep proving the people who do not trust wrong. By being in this summer program and the new comers youth committee, I believe that I am making a change in the community and I am being a leader for the other youth. Therefore, I am glad I had the opportunity to be part of the program and show what we as youth can accomplish.
Norbu Tsering
17 yrs,
Grade 12 (PCI)