Your Future, Your Well-Being: A Day of Growth, Connection, and Possibility
This spring break, Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland welcomed youth to Your Future, Your Well-Being, a full-day event designed to support girls and gender-diverse youth in exploring their goals, building confidence, and connecting with themselves and their future.
From mindfulness to financial literacy, creativity to career exploration, the day created space for learning, reflection, and meaningful conversations.
Starting the Day with Intention
The morning began with a warm welcome, snacks, and time for youth to settle in and connect with one another.
The first session, a mindfulness workshop led by Summan, invited participants to slow down and turn inward. Through a guided meditation, youth were encouraged to close their eyes and tune into their bodies. Afterward, Summan gently asked the group, “How was your body talking to you?”
One youth shared, “I felt every negative feeling wash away.”
The session created a grounding moment for participants to connect with themselves through compassion, awareness, and presence, setting a calm and reflective tone for the day ahead.
Building Confidence Through Practical Skills
The day continued with Her Dollars & Sense, an interactive financial literacy session led by Gabby and Lori. Together, they guided youth through key concepts such as budgeting, identifying wants versus needs, the smart use of credit, and the power of compound interest.
To bring these ideas to life, participants were asked a simple but engaging question: What would you do with $100?
Answers were a mix of practical and playful:
• save or invest
• “go to T&T, get bubble tea, and save the rest”
• “buy Jellycats”
• “buy an eyeshadow palette and save the rest”
Participants also explored the difference between needs and wants, with thoughtful and humorous reflections like, “I don’t need deodorant, but you do NEED Taylor Swift tickets.”
The conversation also opened up bigger questions about the future. When asked what they wanted to be when they grow up, youth shared inspiring goals such as:
• “I want to build a wind farm”
• “I want to build machines”
• “I want to be a surgeon”
• “I want to be a baker”
These moments showed how financial literacy can go beyond numbers, creating space for imagination, curiosity, and future planning.
Exploring Creativity and Self-Expression
In the afternoon, Maeve from Vancouver Kids Fashion Week led a hands-on session that offered a deeper look into the world of fashion. Youth explored the wide range of opportunities within the industry while expressing their creativity through collages made from upcycled materials.
The session balanced inspiration with creativity, encouraging participants to think beyond traditional career paths and consider how their interests and creativity can translate into real-world possibilities.
Imagining What Comes Next
Later in the day, Taskeen Basha facilitated Pick My Brain in partnership with JABC, where youth had the opportunity to ask honest and thoughtful questions about their future.
Some of the questions included:
• “How do I apply for a job that AI won’t take over?”
• “How do I know if I picked the right career?”
The session focused on career exploration, building transferable skills, and understanding how curiosity, experience, and community involvement can help shape future pathways.
Creating Space for Growth
The day wrapped up with a wellness grounding video, giving participants a moment to pause and reflect on everything they had experienced and learned. The event ended with prize draws and a shared sense of energy, connection, and accomplishment.
Your Future, Your Well-Being was more than a one-day event. It was a reminder of the importance of creating spaces where youth can explore who they are, build confidence, and feel supported as they think about their future.
Through a mix of workshops, conversations, and creative activities, participants left with new knowledge, stronger connections, and a deeper sense of what is possible.
We are deeply grateful to all the facilitators, speakers, volunteers, and staff who helped bring this day to life, as well as the youth who showed up with curiosity and openness. Thank you as well to BC Hydro for supporting STEM-related activities at this event, helping make these learning opportunities possible for the youth in our community.