Guiding Youth, Growing Together:
Practicum Stories from CCSS
Over a two-week practicum at Connections Community Services Society, Krystal Wang and Simon Tshindela each contributed their skills and perspectives to CCSS’s career development programs, gaining meaningful insights into supporting youth and jobseekers.
Krystal described her practicum as a truly meaningful journey. Over the past two weeks, she worked closely with clients through career-exploration workshops, intake meetings, and conversations that helped them recognize their strengths and values as they build their career pathways. It was especially rewarding for her to see more clients express interest and trust in CCSS programs after attending her workshop. These interactions showed her how individualized support can make a real difference and taught her how to better connect clients with suitable programs, training opportunities, and community resources.
By creating a safe space for clients to share openly, she felt proud to support their next steps. These experiences also deepened her awareness of the barriers many clients face and highlighted the meaningful impact of career development work.
Simon shared that although his two-week practicum was short, the experience was incredibly meaningful both personally and professionally. Coming in with his background from CIIA/Emploi CB, he was excited to learn, contribute, and better understand how community programs support youth in their career journey. One of his main projects involved designing a workshop on LinkedIn and online branding for youth. Ensuring the content was simple, engaging, and accessible for young people helped him deepen his understanding of how career development tools can empower youth as they build their professional identity.
Krystal’s and Simon’s reflections highlight the importance of encouragement, accessible tools, and supportive environments in helping youth and jobseekers move forward with confidence.
For more information about Youth Employment Programs, please email Anisha Sarana (Program Coordinator) at anisha.sarana@ccssociety.ca or call 604-218-6943.