A free summer and a passion for working with children.
Abby Robins ’23
That’s what led three SJC Long Island child study majors to find work at summer camps.
Abby Robins, Alexandra Romanoff and Asma Hosein, who have all served as officers of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)/Child Study Club, knew that this would be a great opportunity for them as future educators.
“Gaining hands-on experience in the field is so beneficial and rewarding,” said Robins, 20, who works as the game room supervisor at Three Village Central School District’s recreational half day camp.”Our program is offered to kindergarteners through 7th graders. I have loved playing with my 2nd graders the most and hope to teach that grade one day.”
Child Study Majors Learning in the Field
Alexandra Romanoff ’22
Before starting at the camp, Robins worked as a special education aid in the school district, where she had an opportunity to connect with some of these students for the first time.
“It’s so nice to make connections with the kids and get to see a lot of them again in camp,” said Robins, who expects to graduate in 2023 with a concentration in speech.
Romanoff, a senior child study major, also works at Three Village Central School District’s recreational half day camp, where she serves as camp counselor.
“This is a great opportunity because I am able to see how children of different ages and backgrounds interact with each other,” said Romanoff, 20, whose concentration is in speech. “I am learning a lot about social and emotional needs of children while at camp. Taking the time to get to know each student and their unique interests is something I plan to bring into my future classroom.”
Administrative Experience
Asma Hosein ’23
Hosein had the opportunity to help coordinate a summer camp at her local mosque this summer.
“I am gaining a lot from the experience,” said Hosein, 19, who’s volunteering as co-coordinator and assistant for the summer camp. “It is nice to be on the administrative side of things, instead of being a teacher. I am learning about how much work goes into planning a school. There is a lot of coordination and teamwork needed.”
Hosein also volunteers as a kindergarten teacher for the Saturday classes held at her mosque. She said she is learning a lot about leadership from her volunteer work.
“The children in my community are having a lot of social time in the camp, which is important because everything has been virtual for them because of COVID,” Hosein, a junior with a concentration in psychology, explained. “They are getting essential communication and play time with their friends.”
