UCC Interview Info 5

Question Two
b) With what age ranges and groups are you most comfortable with.


At some point in my life I have spent time with every age group. Through my teens and twenties I taught swimming lessons and spent a lot of time with toddlers. I've babysat, worked in a daycare, was a Nanny and I love babies.  While at university I worked in Elder care as a companion for a blind women in her late 80's. I have been a camp counselor to tweens and early teens and am currently a youth group leader for teens from 13 to 18, as well as sitting on several committee's within my own peer group. I really enjoy working with all ages. I believe each has it's lessons to teach me. Currently I am really enjoying working with the teens. I want to fire them up the way my youth leaders did when I was a teen.



Question Three
a) Describe your work habits, include comments on your leadership style, initiative, communication skills, organizational skills, ability to set priorities, ability to follow through on work undertaken and how you relate to people


Okay, so the hug session is over.
My work habits. If I'm into it I'd say my habits are excellent. If I'm not I hit the rocks about midpoint and if it frightens me or I don't understand, it probably won't make it off the ground. Whatever it is.

If I am confident in  my skills in the area we are working in I am happy to take the lead. Otherwise I prefer to not be in charge. I like to be part of a team and have my place, but would rather not be the chair or leader. However, I really don't like being in a group that has no leader and no direction. If I find myself in that situation I will step up and do my best to lead the group. It's not that I can't do it, it's just that I prefer not to. When I find myself in the leadership role I like to get a balanced input. It took me time to get there and I know I have learnt some hard lessons about trying to do it all on my own. Everyone has a strength and if you can figure out what it is you will find the right thing for each person to do to make the whole project come together.

I am full of ideas. It is one of my abundances. I am also great at starting projects and genuinely want to see them to completion.  Follow through, however, is a weakness, but one I am acutely aware of and working hard at correcting. I was a last minute girl through High School and University, didn't do well, just enough to get by.

Taking initiative is something I have often been reluctant to do, being afraid that what I suggest will fail. I used to be shy as well, but now find it easy to meet people and feel confident in myself and my ideas. I now find taking the initiative much easier, especially when I am excited about the idea.

I believe I communicate well, I am expressive and engaged in conversation and spend a great deal of time writing my thoughts out as well. I care about what people have to say and try to listen carefully and fully. I do get frustrated when I feel I can not articulate when I am thinking or feeling. I love people, hearing their stories and helping them sort through things. My life's challenges have set me up to be able to take a walk in many peoples shoes. I am grateful for the rough spots because they allow me to be more empathetic and genuine.

I love to organize things, spaces and events. I love it.

With the birth of my two children I believe I have a better grasp on priority. Honestly I get derailed sometimes but I always find my way back.



b) What kind of situations cause you stress and how do you deal with it?


Stress visits my digestive system before it ever makes it to my head, I deal with it by crying, writing, deep breathing and organizing. I get stressed when I feel like there is too much to do in an insufficient period of time. I tend to start to fluster until I recognize that I am stressed and then I take a second to pull it all back together. I find situations that I can not help in stressful as well as times when I feel there is negative talk. I am not intimidated by situations I consider stressful, I generally take that as a challenge to face it on and overcome. I crave sugar under stress as well, but a cup of tea is much more helpful in calming things down.

Night Be