#FacesOfTrentU: Giving Back While Making Big Career Gains
Psychology student Brooke DeGraaf prepares for a career supporting people as they age with volunteer position at the Alzheimer Society
“Although I have previous hands-on work experience at a dementia day-program, I was really looking for more background experience in the field, and my volunteer position at the local Alzheimer Society has been amazing for that.”
Brooke DeGraaf is a fourth-year Psychology student and an undergraduate associate of the Trent Centre for Aging & Society. She supports various learning programs such as “First Steps” and “Care Essentials” as an assistant to the Public Education Coordinator at the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton.
During a typical volunteer shift she puts together resource packages for clients and updates and develops fact sheets for the Society. Through her involvement with the Alzheimer Society, Ms. DeGraaf has been able to take her learning to the next level.
“The knowledge I’ve gained while at the Alzheimer Society has really supplemented what I have learned in the classroom through the aging studies courses offered at Trent. I now feel more prepared to enter a Masters or post-graduate program in Aging Studies.”
Learn more about Psychology, the Trent Centre for Aging & Society and the local Alzheimer Society.
Trent University prides itself on providing an outstanding personal and interactive learning environment. This story is part of the #FacesofTrentU series, which highlights our many student success stories and the numerous dynamic programs offered at Trent.