The joy of being part of the team
Something I did not necessarily expect to be such a valuable element of my Yipiyap experience is being part of such wonderful teams. At the start of my Gap Year I underestimated the significance of having a team assuming working independently at a school would be the predominant dynamic of the role. However, it quickly became apparent that Yipiyap intentionally aims to cultivate a positive and collegiate environment driven by communication and teamwork. Testament to this is the ongoing support provided by the welcoming staff and the genuine friendships I have developed.
Due to Yipiyap being nationwide you are often physically distant from your colleagues, but they make huge efforts to bridge this gap. For example, this was made clear to me during the Induction in Altrincham. Not only was it incredibly fun to spend time with lots of other Tutors but I was also able to personally meet all the staff. Being part of the entire team even just for the Induction really helped me understand the overall purpose and function of Yipiyap. Additionally, something that stuck with me was the emphasis placed on the value of Tutors and of us being an integral part of Yipiyap as I felt respected and welcomed as a member of the wider team. This attitude manifests itself throughout the year, for example we are regularly asked for our opinion – our views on our Gap Year with Yipiyap are always welcomed.
This network of support is even more tangible amongst the Regional Directors (RD) - an enthusiastic and dedicated team (shoutout to Niamh!). Firstly, the targeted aid from your RD means you never feel alone and always have someone on your side which is very comforting when going into a school by yourself for the first time. Even though many issues are actually quite manageable and can be dealt with without the assistance of an RD, being able to voice your concerns or raise problems that aren’t straightforward makes the experience much more comfortable and less nerve-wracking.
Additionally, the team spirit amongst my Regional team is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the job. Despite being members of the same team, we don’t actually work together and are separated by cities and counties yet it’s hugely motivating to know that we’re all in the same boat connected by our experiences. Using Group Chats to talk frequently maintains an atmosphere of teamwork despite rarely being able to meet up. Additionally, we have had amazing social events to ensure the sense of fun and collegiality is maintained. Recently my Regional team were able to meet for a Laser Tag competition which was extremely entertaining!
It has been somewhat of a surprise how prominent my team have been in my experience with Yipiyap. I was a little dismissive of being part of a team at the beginning of my Gap Year but in retrospect this was only due to massively underestimating the importance of ‘being’ part of a team. I thought that working alone in a school and spending time only with my department would cancel out the possibility of developing strong bonds with Yipiyap - I could not have been more wrong!