When people ask me what I do for my job I tell them that I’m a professional youth worker.
When I lived in the UK this was widely accepted as a real thing. At the very least, people recognized that it was a job that I could have that didn’t involve working for a church as a youth pastor. In the UK and Australia, people know what you’re talking about when you say you’re a youth worker. They may or may not quibble over the ‘professional‘ part, but they get it.
When I get asked what I do here in the US, I say ‘I’m a professional youth worker’. They reply with ‘Oh, are you a…. (insert one here – teacher, youth pastor, youth minister, psychologist or social worker)?’
No. I’m a professional youth worker. I’m a qualified, trained and experienced person who works with youth between the ages of 5-21 (definitions vary about children and youth workers but my current role includes 5-10’s). I love what I do. I informally teach skills, concepts and interesting things to youth in an effort to help them become the best people they can be, now and when they get older.
I’m passionate about this distinction.
However, there is one place that I get super sensitive and shy about it and completely doubt my abilities.
When I’m around other ‘professionals’. You know, the (insert one here – teachers, youth pastors, youth ministers, psychologists or social workers). I get nervous and completely doubt my abilities.
I spent a whole day in training recently freaking out because I was with a bunch of teachers. All of them knew what a pacing guide was (incidentially, this is the document they create that tells them which parts of the text/curriculum they’re teaching in what week/lesson. I was like ‘Oh, you mean like a “plan”- just say plan!’). They all knew about block schedules and how to best fit the evidence-based curriculum we’re working with in with their text book. I felt completely out of my element all day.
Until I found out the one thing that I knew about which many of them didn’t. How to work with youth: how to accept them, see the best in them, be patient with them, dialogue with them. Not teach at them, but work with them – how to best facilitate discussions, create games and activities to make social education come alive, icebreakers, and 101 things to do with post-it notes.
This isn’t a rag on teachers or other professionals. It’s a praise for youth workers. Know what you do, do it well and be proud of yourself. Whether you have qualifications or not, conduct yourself like a professional because you are one. You’re a professional at working with youth in a way that other adults in their lives can only dream of.
Don’t take on the shame of being under or unqualified, lacking in your MDiv, MSW or MEd.
Be proud of being what you are: A Youth Worker.
Question: Have you ever felt intimidated in a room full of qualified, professionals before as a youth worker? Share your experience in the comments below.
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