University Essay: Youth Development Practitioner Journey & Aims

This essay reflects on a student's aspiration to become a youth development practitioner. The author discusses their personal attributes, including patience, communication skills, and enthusiasm, which they believe are crucial for success in this field. The essay highlights the influence of the author's parents and the impact of effective leadership programs on their development. The student outlines both short-term and long-term goals, including supporting young people's social, educational, and personal growth. They aim to assess youth needs, plan programs, and monitor the quality of local youth work. The essay concludes with a brief bibliography of relevant sources supporting the student's insights and aspirations in youth development.

Running head: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Youth Development
Name of the University:
Name of the Student:
Author Note:

1YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Youth Development Practitioner
Becoming a youth development practitioner was my lifelong dream as I have seen
many practitioners are treated in a professional manner. Moreover, they provide engaging
programs to the youth in order to develop strong relationships, for their benefits. Therefore,
being a practitioner, I support career growth, professionalism and establishment of stability
within this industry.
I was naturally driven to these kinds of experiences, which helped in developing a
good purpose of life. I gathered the required outcomes for the sources and collected
information related to the industry. I have been following many practitioners’ job roles in the
society, which motivated and encouraged me in being a part of it. Moreover, effective
leadership programs instilled strong principle within me, which in turn made me a part of the
development program.
My parents influenced me the most as I was growing up and making decisions
regarding my life and work. Not only they influenced me, but also they guided me and
encouraged me in becoming what I am today. They have always supported me and taught me
to become a good human being first.
Personal Attributes
I think that I have all the required attributes, which would make me a good youth
development practitioner. Patience is being listed first as it is the most crucial factor.
Moreover, I have the ability to hide annoyance or frustration. In addition to this, I know how
to keep calm, at crisis situations. Lastly, the combination of good communication skills along
with enthusiasm is surely going to make me an influential practitioner.

2YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
I believe that success is an achievement of some specific thing that one has been
trying to do for a particular period of time. I do not hold high expectations of my own success
or the success of the youth. High aspirations or expectations can at times, lead to
disappointments and thus, I believe in encouraging and motivating others; rather than holding
high expectations.
Life comes with challenges and at every step, there are difficulties. I have come
across various obstacles, which would help me in empathizing the youth. Life skills are
basically the abilities for positive or adaptive behavior, which enables individuals to deal with
the challenges or demands of daily life, in the most effective manner.
Long term goals
In the next five years, I would like to see myself as a successful practitioner, guiding
and supporting the young people in their social, educational and personal development.
Moreover, I would help them in reaching their full potential within the society, by
supervising them.
I aim to assess the requirements of the youth and plan programs related to the areas
like health, smoking, fitness, drugs and other challenges. I aim to monitor as well as review
the overall quality of local youth work’s provision and attend the multi agency meetings.
My goals and ambitions would make me a better youth development practitioner as I
would be supporting and guiding the younger generation, constantly. Moreover, I would
train, recruit as well as manage staff members and undertake administrative tasks. This would
help me in polishing my skills, as a practitioner.

3YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Bibliography
Camiré, M., 2014. Youth development in North American high school sport: Review and
recommendations. Quest, 66(4), pp.495-511.
Fraser-Thomas, J., Beesley, T., Dickler, L., Harlow, M., Mosher, A., Preston, C. and
Wolman, L., 2017. Developing Talent While Promoting Positive Youth Development.
Lerner, R.M., Lerner, J.V., P Bowers, E. and John Geldhof, G., 2015. Positive Youth
Development and Relational‐Developmental‐Systems. Handbook of child psychology and
developmental science.
Li, Y., Agans, J.P., Chase, P.A., Arbeit, M.R., Weiner, M.B. and Lerner, R.M., 2014. School
Engagement and Positive Youth Development: A Relational Developmental Systems
Perspective. Teachers College Record, 116(13), pp.37-57.