Have you ever wondered what you can do with your Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS) degree? We sat down with Valla Boffey, FYCS Class of 2024, to reflect on her journey from FYCS student to summer camp program director. Valla Boffey graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Family, Youth and Community Sciences in 2024. Now, she uses her FYCS degree in her position as the Summer Camps Program Director at YMCA Camp Pendalouan in Montague, Michigan.
What do you love about your job?
I enjoy creating and overseeing programs for campers that are fun and engaging while intentionally supporting their growth and development. I value working for an organization that strongly upholds its values and strives to create programs where kids can have fun while gaining skills that extend beyond camp. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is interacting directly with campers and watching them build confidence, learn new skills, and form meaningful connections.
I also find great fulfillment in mentoring young adult staff members. Supporting their professional growth, helping them develop leadership skills, and guiding them as they learn to positively impact campers is an important and meaningful part of my work.
How did your FYCS degree prepare you for your career?
My FYCS education provided both the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to successfully run programs. Early courses in the degree taught me a great deal about how people interact and experience the world, helping me develop empathy and a deeper understanding of others in both my personal and professional life. As I completed my degree, I began to recognize that the projects I was working on in class closely mirrored the work I now do professionally. The FYCS program truly played a significant role in shaping both my career path and the person I am today and I will be forever grateful.
Were there specific courses, projects, or assignments that stand out as useful now?
FYC4410 Children: Trauma and Resilience- I talk about this course as often as I can! In this course we discussed the Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) model. This practice has become my response when dealing with children with big emotion. I truly enjoyed learning about these topics and feel this educational piece sets me apart when discussing behavior management. Additionally, this class was a good reminder of why I want to help children. Shoutout to Dr. Gillen who was a very informative and kind professor.
FYC4622 Programming Planning and Evaluation- This entire class and the final project was probably the most difficult of my college career. However, I am now very grateful for it because it truly gave me the skills to develop a well researched program.
What is one memorable experience from your time with FYCS?
During FYC4622- Programming Planning and Evaluation our final group project was a very intensive program planning assignment. My group created a mental health focused initiative entitled “Get Outta Your Mind.” The title started as a joke in class one day and now every time I hear that song I think of that project!
What is one piece of advice for current FYCS students?
Once piece of advice is to get out, volunteer and connect with organizations you might be interested in working post graduation. FYCS and nonprofit work is such a broad field and it is important to find what area you enjoy the most.
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