WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO? (IDEOLOGIES)

"These young people are typically defined solely by their challenges, not by their potential." —YouthBuild

This quote stood out to me because so often in life, people are labeled based on their past rather than their future. In society, people are frequently judged by things beyond their control like race, where they were born, and how they speak. These factors shape how people are defined and how others decide who they will become. Youth of color, in particular, are often seen as less capable, when in reality, they are just as capable as their peers. I connect this quote to my work in college recruitment. I have colleagues from other universities who do not travel to urban areas, judging students based on where they come from rather than recognizing their potential and the value they can bring to a college community. This kind of bias makes me so angry because everyone deserves an equal opportunity to improve themselves. More people should focus on helping others and giving them a fair chance.

"One of the goals of Early Intervention is to provide support to families so their children can develop to their fullest potential." —RI Early Intervention Program

This quote resonated with me because I am a strong advocate for early intervention in education. While this website focuses on early intervention for children, I often see students who needed support but didn’t receive it or received it too late. When we provide children and young people with the tools to grow, they can accomplish wonderful things. Moreover, when we notice problems whether in the individual or the system we must take action to resolve them. Actions at times speak louder than words, so we need to address the problems we see to help make a better future. 

"These ideologies are not pure or fixed—a philosophy can grow, change, and develop over time." —McKamey, Bogad, Clemons, Restler

This quote struck me in an unexpected way. Coming into the YDEV master’s program without prior knowledge of the study and components of youth work, I’ve noticed that with every article, podcast, and class, my views open up and shift. I didn’t know the history or ideology of the work we do—I just did the jobs. But in YDEV, I’ve been able to take different ideas we’ve discussed and apply them to my youth work. Reflecting on the ideology inventory, I was only one point off between Risk and Prevention and Positive Youth Development. I think this reflects that I’m still shaping my philosophy of youth work. Honestly, I believe this will always be the case, as youth work constantly evolves and we, as youth workers, grow and adapt along with it.