I really believe that before we can start working with young people, we need to take a look at where we started and where we come from. I am not referring to our background or our stories, although these are certainly fundamental in our work with young people, however, I suggest to analyze in more detail and honest the question: “Why do you work with young people?”
This question before starting to work with young people is essential because without reflecting on “why”, how can we start to engage with young people in an honest way? When I ask myself this question, I find that my answer is rooted in “love” and “compassion”. Undoubtedly, I work with young people because I really care about their general well-being. Whether it is self-awareness, self-development, identity security, academic support or the satisfaction of primary needs, my work with young people has always come from a place of love and always will.
For me, love and compassion are two key values ??that guide my practice because in every moment, program or situation in which I participate with young people, I always try to come from a place of love to support them better. In the same sense, the School Counseling Program of the University of San Francisco also incorporates these two values, which is one of the reasons why I became so interested in the program and I think it is a great option for me.
Through this program, I hope to learn the skills needed to build a global school culture that begins with love and compassion. There are several schools that perpetuate systems of lack of power and control that only enforce a power struggle between young people and adults, as well as the idea that “young people need to be repaired”. If we can root our schools in love and compassion, then we can send young people a new and welcoming message in which students are validated, empowered, loved and connected.
