The Diocesan Youth Conference (DYC) is the biggest annual gathering of youth in the Catholic Diocese of Victoria, which spans across the whole Vancouver island. For the past three years I have served as the Chair on the planning committee of young adults and youth ministries focused on serving the youth and planning the best conference ever. Through planning this conference I have developed my organization skills, collaboration skills, effective meeting running tools, and how to effectively address the needs of 200 people in one very busy weekend. DYC takes a full year to plan with at least 1 meeting a month and then work days in the month prior to the event, along with a team retreat and fundraiser each year. To have all of these areas of DYC run smoothly I delegate and coordinate until everyone is working effectively and well in the task they have chosen to do or their skill set helps us decide they do. To organize DYC we have 15 subcommittees which work together to plan specific areas of the conference, and then I follow up with them, make decisions with them and help them whenever they are stuck for ideas. As chair I must constantly be patient and understanding to the people on my team, which means not overwhelming them to work, or tasks that they do not feel comfortable doing, while also making sure that everyone is meeting the deadlines and keeping everything on task. 

My volunteer experience as the chair organizer of the diocesan youth conference committee has strengthened my teaching skills in more ways then I think I really realize. Especially, however, this experience directly correlates to these follow BC teacher standards as set out for teachers to comply to; by the BC ministry of education.

• Educators are role models who act ethically and honestly.
• Educators value and care for all students and act in their best interests.
• Educators value the involvement and support of parents, guardians, families, and communities in schools.

This conference is centered around acting ethically and honestly and as a person whose name and reputation is stamped all around this conference, I would also present myself in the same way as a role model in these areas of education. While planning this conference the team and I are often brought back to our mission statement: to serve the needs of the youth. This means exactly that through this action I am valuing and caring for my students (currently, youth attending the conference) and therefore acting in their best interest.

We have many parent and community volunteers who make this conference successful and who I get to work closely alongside. Honestly, their opinions can often be more knowledgeable and helpful than professional youth ministers because of their one-on-one time with their teenager at home.  They are one of our biggest allies and supports because we do value and appreciate their opinions.