![\"Kathleen](\"http:\/\/www.cmu.ca\/media_archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Kathleen-McCullough-276x300.jpg\")
Kathleen McCullough describes her practicum placement as a \u201chome away from home.\u201d<\/p>\nKathleen McCullough describes her practicum placement as a \u201chome away from home.\u201d<\/p>\n
While completing the final year of her BA in Psychology at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU), McCullough volunteered with L\u2019Arche, \u201can international organization of faith-based communities creating homes and day programs with people who have intellectual disabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The relational nature of a practicum with a L\u2019Arche house in Winnipeg appealed to McCullough, who describes her placement as not necessarily having specific jobs, but helping to facilitate meeting the residents\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n
There are six L\u2019Arche houses in Winnipeg, each with four to five core members, and a certain number of assistants and volunteers.<\/p>\n
McCullough helped residents with day-to-day activities such as getting dressed, preparing for bed, or cooking meals. She developed friendships with the L\u2019Arche residents through these activities and others such as games nights, watching movies, and birthday celebrations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was about being with each other and embracing the moments that you have with each other \u2026 about being a home with people,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
For McCullough, who describes herself as \u201cbig on relationships,\u201d completing a practicum with L\u2019Arche was an excellent choice. It also tied into her future plans\u2014she\u2019ll be pursuing further studies in education and aims to work as an assistant to children with disabilities in schools.<\/p>\n
Anticipating this future work, McCullough says her practicum allowed her the opportunity to \u201cfigure out how to work with how [the residents] show their disability,\u201d which she describes as a meaningful experience.<\/p>\n
McCullough has been interested in psychology and the nature of relationships since high school. The psychology classes she\u2019s taken at CMU focused on social relationships, counselling, and motivational psychology. The skills and tools she gained in the classroom were helpful in her placement, as the L\u2019Arche community is composed of residents from diverse backgrounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much diversity at L\u2019Arche\u2014different genders, faiths, cultural backgrounds,\u201d she says. \u201cL\u2019Arche accepts everyone which is unique because [the diversity] makes the community at L\u2019Arche so strong.\u201d<\/p>\n
For those who are planning their practicum, McCullough recommends choosing a practicum placement that will be meaningful.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you pick something that could lead toward your future vocational experience, that\u2019s really important,\u201d she says. \u201cIt makes it more enjoyable and you get more out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen Paulley is a Writer and Social Media Coordinator at Canadian Mennonite University<\/em><\/p>\n