Writing the student’s learning journal
Beverley McKay
Friday, June 10, 2005
A local student of the Diploma in Youth in Development, Beverley Sharon
McKay, has guiding philosophies of “The largest room in the house is the room
for improvement” and “The sky is the limit”, and her journal has been
circulated around the Caribbean for the second time.
Ms McKay, who is ever improving herself, has been keeping a journal as
required on each of the 13 modules that the two-year course offers. The
Diploma is part of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), Caribbean Centre,
and the School of Continuing Studies at the University of the West Indies,
Mona Campus, Jamaica.
The CYP Diploma in Youth was introduced in the Cayman Islands by the
Ministry of Community Services in June of last year.
Country Coordinator for the CYP Dorian Lennon from the Ministry of Community
Services, Youth, Sports, and Gender Affairs explained why Ms McKay’s journal
was selected for a second time.
“She captures the subject matter and Beverley has a way of making her
readers feel as if they are living the experience with her. She has a great
writing style, "Ms. Lennon said.
Ms McKay said she used her skills to enhance her journal and in turn the
journal has helped her appreciate the course.
“Journal writing has given me a feeling of deep involvement in the course
and has made learning interesting. I feel a sense of satisfaction, and I am
humbled that for the second time around my journal has been selected to be
shared across the Caribbean with the students of the programme.”
Ms McKay, who has been working in the Cayman Islands for the past 15 years,
was recently promoted to senior residential care worker of the Children and
Youth Services Foundation (CAYS). Her clientele comprises both children with
behavioural problems and children in need of care and protection. She
previously worked as residential care worker with the Department of Children
and Family Services in Cayman and was transferred when the management of
Residential Homes was transferred to the CAYS Foundation.
Ms McKay credited the course for helping her to develop professionally as a
youth worker. “I was encouraged to do the programme by Country Coordinator
Dorian Lennon, and I have not regretted taking her advice,” she said. “I find
that I have used a lot of what I have learned in my working relationship with
clients and co-workers.”
In her 10 years of experience working with children and young people, Ms
McKay has actively participated in the planning and implementation of youth
summer camps and activity programmes for young people. She is also involved in
the youth ministry of her local church and in community youth groups.
“I have a genuine interest and an undying passion for working with children
and young people,” she says. This just may be the driving force behind
Beverley’s continued success and recent promotion. The mother of three girls
was born in the parish of Manchester, in Jamaica, and is a graduate of Knox
College in Clarendon.
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