Professionalism is a one of the key areas for development for anyone who works with children. Just like any skill, and professionalism is a skill, it takes time to learn, develop, and become aware of your professional self. My first exposure to professionalism was I started working with neuro-atypical clients for the Ministry of Children and Family Development when I was 16. Part of my role was meeting with social workers, psychologists, counsellors, teachers, and other community support workers as part of a team of professionals. Being 16, I did not have a lot of experience being a professional. I made mistakes, was corrected, reflected, and developed what I feel is my approach to professionalism; if you work with children you are a professional at all times.
Does this mean you cannot have fun with your friends? Or make mistakes? Or be adventurous and spontaneous? The answer is you can. It just means that the way you do it will be fundamentally changed forever. I learned early on that I will always be wearing the ‘hat’ of the professional and have to conduct myself in a manner that would instill trust from others. Who were the others? Anyone who would trust me to work with their client or child.
As I went through school and onto university this skill became more developed. I was able to reflect on my limited time working with children and identify where I could improve. One key moment for me is when I learned the difference between being a worker and friend. I learned that as soon as you are paid to work with a client you cannot be their friend. I learned this during my Child and Youth Care courses at Malaspina University/College, now Vancouver Island University.
Over the next 20 years I have been working in k-12 schools where I have had the role of an education assistant. In my time I have continued to learn, develop, and reflect on my professionalism. I have also in that time become a father which gives you a different perspective on life as you are no longer the most important person in your life. I have also coached many kids in various sports which again changes your perspective. This becomes a reflexive process where everything continues to build upon each other and the skill of being a professional continues to develop.
Now that I have returned to post secondary education at Vancouver Island University in the education program my approach of “if you work with children you are a professional at all times” has been very well developed. As I believe I never stop learning I do not assume that I have mastered professionalism, but I hope with what I am learning in the education program that I am well on my way to mastery.
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