Hi I'm Kristen Kolisar, and my concentration areas are in sociology and family & child development. I chose these concentration areas, because I am very interested in the study of social behavior, the concept of marriage and family, and just people in general. I found interest in these areas a few years ago, and I always knew I would go into a field that not only is in the customer service business but also would have something to do with helping people. After graduation, I plan on working in the field of social work for Child Protective Services (CPS). I would still like to explore a little moreof my options in my career choice. I feel that I've always been the type of person that has a big heart and enjoys making a difference. In the color personality tests I've always tested high in the blue category, which is the caring, loving "teacher" type pf person. I currently work in the special education department at ahigh school as an Instructional Aide, and I enjoy working in a classroom with my special needs students.
For my internship, I am working as a Specialized Habilitation Provider for an agency called Lauren's Institute for Education (L.I.F.E.). What this means is that I work in the home of a child with special needs that the agency placed me in, and not only am I helping with daycare assistance, but I also work on the child's IEP goals. An IEP is an Individualized Education Plan that is made up by the student's case manager and a team of specialists that work together in providing an education plan that is best suitable for that student. Instead of working in a classroom and with high school students like I have for the past 2 years, now I will be working with one 6 year old boy one on one and in his own environment, his home. I hope to learn how this disability can be worked with and maintained enough to live as normal a life as possible. I want to better understand how to work with children with special needs so that I will have a more deepened understanding of more than just the average child. I want to be well rounded in my concentration area of the child development aspect.
Hi Kristen! What you're doing is very impressive. I've never heard of L.I.F.E. before, but it sounds like an awesome organization. How many hours do you spend with your child a day? Right now I'm working in South Africa, where my grandmother lives and she has horrible arthritis to the point where she can't walk, so I help her out as much as I can, but it does get frustrating sometimes. This job seems perfect for the career path your pursuing.
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ReplyDeleteHello, I'm Josie. I am glad to hear your working with L.I.F.E. helping special needs children. My daughter has been receiving speech therapy with Blake Foundation Easter Seals, which provides the same service I believe as L.I.F.E. My daughter's case worker is awesome and we are currently striving to meet our goals set through IEP to improve her speech. Student like yourself who wants to help parents like me if wonderful career choice. You may think of it as a job but the for my daughter it's her future your improving.
ReplyDeleteHi Kristen, I am Alicia and it is very nice to "meet" such a nice person like you. I have never before heard of L.I.F.E. but it sounds absolutely wonderful and must be very rewarding. Are you kind of like an additional caretaker as well? I remember learning about this crucial position in many of my CDE courses. Wow, it takes a really strong person to do what you do and I commend you for it. I also love kids and am very intersted in helping families work together to function more efficiently. I spent a year as Miss Arizona USA 2009 and had the chance to work with families extensively and realized just how amazing it is. (Amazing enough to make me switch my major in fact!) I encourage you to keep pushing through the rough patches that are bound to surface because in the end there is nothing more gratifying then helping people. You may be fulfilling an internship requirement on the surface, but to the families whose child you are helping, you are changing their lives! Good luck to you this summer. I have no doubt that you will walk away from the experience a different person with more real world experience.
ReplyDeleteKristen, I haven't met you personally but you sound like such a giving and caring person. I am so glad I have the opportunity to share our experiences with one another. Sounds like you know exactly what line of business you want to get in to. I always thought I was giving a lot back to the community by couching and couseling youth sports, but your commitment to communities around us is one to remember. I commend you for all of your hard work, keep it up. I am very excited to hear more about you and your work these next couple of months. Good luck and keep on keeping on.
ReplyDeleteHi Kristen,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are a very caring person who works hard to help others especially the disadvantaged. Your internship at LIFE sounds like a good opportunity for you to gain some additional skills in working with special needs children. I think that you have a number of possible career paths to choose from, you could become a special education teacher, or a social worker (like you said for CPS) or ever work for a non-profit. I am looking forward to hearing more about your internship and also your career choices this summer.