Third-year University of Guelph-Humber Community Social Services (CSS) student Taejah Noble understands firsthand the importance of offering emotional support to young people.  

While growing up in Toronto, Noble was actively involved in several community youth groups. She also benefitted from the support of a few engaged teachers that helped her navigate high school, teenage insecurity and coming into her own identity. 

  "I am a byproduct of different support systems contributing to my life in different ways,” said Noble. “Whether it be through sharing resources, being a letter of reference, encouraging me or having a heart-to-heart talk, these support systems were critical to my success.”   

After high school, Noble thought the University of Guelph-Humber's Community Social Services (CSS) program would give her the skills and experience to provide the same kind of support to younger students that she received as a teenager.  

"That theme of helping people has struck a chord with me,” said Noble. “The CSS program gives you diverse opportunities to provide support to others."  

The CSS program is a four-year undergraduate degree that helps students positively impact vulnerable populations by teaching students about therapeutic intervention, counselling, crisis intervention and more. In addition to an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Community Social Services from the University of Guelph, CSS students receive a Social Service Worker diploma from Humber College. As part of the hands-on curriculum, students accumulate 800 hours of work-integrated learning (WIL) experience in three different work placements. 

Noble thought the program’s work-placement requirement was a great way to learn more about what she wanted to do. "You can receive confirmation about things that you love and also receive clarity about things that you don't — I think that's equally important," Noble said.  

For six months, Noble worked with an organization called Generation Chosen, a non-profit that supports the social and emotional well-being of youth in underserved communities. Noble worked as an Education Department Assistant, helping develop and facilitate workshops.  

"We meet with high school students to facilitate panels that connect to our monthly themes,” she said. “One theme might be 'emotional intelligence,' and we break it down and make it tangible.'"   

Dwayne Brown from Generation Chosen was extremely pleased with Taejah’s performance, and the impact she made on the youth she worked with. 

“It was an honour to work with and learn from Taejah. She has a natural gift of connecting with people and teaching. It was outstanding to watch her humbly transform the minds, and possibly the world's, of the youth she worked with," said Brown.  

Helping students navigate the social and emotional struggles of adolescence reminded Noble of her own experiences with mentors and youth programs.  

"It's a full-circle moment, and it's constantly reaffirming the need that there is,” said Noble. “Just to be able to identify with people who've been in the same position… it's pretty cool to stay connected to that."  

Due to COVID-19, Taejah delivered workshops virtually, which occasionally made it difficult to see the impact of her work. 

"Not all the students would always have their cameras on, and you don't actually know if the information is getting to the person,” said Noble. “Not every student is going to tell their teacher how impactful a lesson was.”  

To overcome this challenge, Noble learned to celebrate the small victories.  

"At the end of the program, one of the students actually asked us if we are repeating the program because of how much it's changed their perspective in life,” said Noble. “I think that was very moving to me because it reminds me [of a] seed. You don't always see the growth happen, and you might not be the one to witness it, but you know it's there."  

In her final placement and into her future career, Noble wants to use the experience she gained at Generation Chosen to keep supporting youth in community work and education. 

Learn more about the University of Guelph-Humber's Community Social Services program.