Victoria Verrekia THRC

 

Objective

Dedicated, compassionate worker seeks opportunity to gain experience working with youth and adults with disabilities or special needs to maintain/improve their physical, mental, emotional, and psychosocial health through recreation.

 

Education

Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Major:  Therapeutic Recreations

Minor:  Speech Pathology

Expected graduation date, May 2018

 

Experience

Temple University Women’s Rowing                                                                       Philadelphia, PA

Coxswain                                                                                                                             2014-2016

Collaborate with coaches to formulate race plan.  Responsible for successful execution of race plan while steering the boat.  Develop knowledge of rowers’ strengths and weaknesses in order to maximize boat performance.  Member of women’s novice/freshman boat that won 7 medals for the 2014-15 rowing season including 2 championship racing level medals at the Dad Vail Regatta and the American Athletic Conference.  Simultaneously manage team responsibilities up to 20 hours per week while pursuing education.

 

Personal Nanny                                                                                                                Wayne, PA

Summer 2015

Cared for two school age children five days a week.  Responsibilities included managing camp and summer enrichment schedules.  Transported to and from numerous activities and camps.  Engaged in one-on-one activities daily including reading, playing soccer, cooking and outdoor activities.  Planned outings and took a personal interest in social and emotional needs of the children.

Personal Nanny                                                                                                                Broomall, PA

Summer 2014

Cared for one school age child five days week.  Main responsibility was to ensure safety of the child and friends in the family pool.  Also engaged in daily one-on-one activities including assistance with summer school assignments, cooking and arts and crafts.  Planned weekly enrichment outings. Took a personal interest in the social and emotional needs of the child.

 

Marple Newtown Soccer Association                                                                      Broomall, PA

Youth Soccer Trainer                                                                                                        2012-2014

 

Lead the development of soccer players by organizing weekly training sessions. Focused on developing young soccer players with the appropriate skills as recommended by the Maple Newtown Soccer Association coaching and training program manual.

 

Related Experience/Community Service

Special Olympics                                                                                                               November 2015

Represented Temple University Women’s Rowing team at the event for children and young adults with special needs.

 

Team Joseph Verrekia for the Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run                2010-present

Initiated the recruitment of team members for annual charity event. Successfully recruited over 50 team members annually from among class mates and school teammates.

 

 

 

My name is Victoria Verrekia. I am a sophomore therapeutic recreations student at Temple University. Like many students who are entering a college or university they think they have their whole life figured out just by knowing their major. I first entered Temple University as a speech pathology major. As I entered my first semester as a sophomore I realized that this is not what I wanted to do. I felt as though I was missing something, and I craved more of a hands-on experience. I discovered therapeutic recreations through my amazing advisers here at Temple. Through my new classes I was able to immediately get hands on  experience through volunteer work. I was able to observe as well as participate in activities such as, Wheelchair Basketball, Goalball, and Adapted Skiing. I have a new-found love for therapeutic recreations and I know this is something that I want to do for the rest of my life.

Professionally, I hope to work with adolescents with physical and developmental disabilities. I believe that therapeutic recreations can play a crucial role in rehabilitation as well as strength training. This is an important part of success for the individuals. Through their success they will also gain confidence. My dream job would be to own my own facility that specializes in team adapted sports.

With my experience with through my Professional Development Hours that are required through many classes in the TR major, I hope to gain the skills to achieve my goal in the profession. Through my education at Temple University it is imperative that I continue to learn about the individual’s needs and how I can apply them to make their experience as comfortable as possible.