Are you considering working with children in your career? Whether you want to be a teacher, social worker, doctor, counselor, therapist, or more, being able to work with children is an essential skill to have. The Ignite program offers students an opportunity to not only get the experience of working with children, but also make a difference in their lives as you build connections and witness them grow as people. The Ignite Program is a work study program currently offered to students at Rutgers-Camden where you are able to work as an after school aid at one of the three local elementary or middle schools. I got to work as a part of this program during my sophomore year from 2022-2023. In the rest of this post I will be providing more information about the program and talking about my personal experience working at the schools.
The Ignite Program currently includes three locations to work at. Thomas H. Dudley Family School, Cooper’s Poynt Family Schools, and Holy Name School. The students who are a part of the program are 4th through 8th grade students. Your role working in this program will be as an aid to the after school teachers who are also working in the program. This can include homework help, escorting students between areas, helping organize activities for students, or even taking part in activities with the students. The program runs from 3pm until 6pm each school day but you are not required to work each of those days and can work with your site coordinator to create the best schedule for you.
During my time working with the Ignite program, I got to work with the student at Thomas H. Dudley Family School. I spent most of my time with 8th grade students but also had the opportunity to work with some of the ESL students at the school. I worked as the math teacher’s aid and spent the first half of the program each day helping students with math homework and problems. The program offers ride share options like Uber rides for students to get to the school they will be working at and provides a bus when the program concludes that brings students back to campus.
In conclusion, my experience with the Ignite Program at Rutgers-Camden has been rewarding. Working with children, in particular 8th grade students at Thomas H. Dudley Family School, allowed me to not only contribute to their academic development but also build meaningful connections with them. As a math teacher’s aid, I had the opportunity to assist with homework and problem-solving, witnessing their growth firsthand. The Ignite Program is not just a work-study opportunity; it’s a chance to make a positive impact on young lives and contribute to their journey of personal and academic growth. If you’re considering a career involving children, the Ignite Program provides valuable experience and a platform to make a lasting difference in the lives of students. If you are interested in applying reach out to the Office of Civic Engagement at 856-225-6576 or visit the office at 67 Penn Street, Camden, NJ, 08102.
By Isaiah Casey-Hammond