Indian woman fulfils her passion for social work after moving to P.E.I.

By Gomathi Sridevi

March 14, 2023

Anna Seshna Sebastian’s world revolves around her passion: social work. The 23-year-old Seshna, got her Permanent Residency recently and wants to do a Master of Social Work. (Gomathi Sridevi Radhakrishnan photo)

Anna Seshna Sebastian starts her day at 7 a.m. at Queens County Residential Services(QCRS). It's like a group home for people with disabilities and autism.

"I prepare meals, take them outside for a walk, give them medications, and tend to their personal needs for the day."

They have a scheduled program and work on their daily activities depending on the weather.

"If the weather is good, we take them swimming, walking in Charlottetown Mall and horse riding too."

Seshna found her work challenging because she couldn't predict how her clients would behave.

"One of my clients was very aggressive. He didn't know me, and I didn't know him. But after being with him for three years, we are best buddies now."

He hugs Seshna whenever he sees her, which means so much to her.

Seshna never liked to work the same routine every day, so she found her job quite interesting because every day is different and a new learning experience.

Coming from a family of nurses, Seshna developed a passion for social service from a young age. She always planned to find a career in the health field.

That's the reason why she moved from India to Canada in 2018. She was only 18 at that time.

"I wanted to try something different. I knew I always had eyes for social service, so I decided why not choose the Social Work course."

She ended up graduating with a diploma from Sheridan College in Ontario and she got placed in long-term care for her first job, as a camp counsellor in Ontario.

"I was having a lunch break, and a guy came in and just smacked my head. I didn't know what happened for a minute."

Back then, she was new to the job and didn't know how to deal with the situation. But after working for more than four years, she felt confident and satisfied that she had made the right choice of career.

After gaining some experience, in 2020 Seshna decided it was time for a change. She accepted a job offer in P.E.I. to pursue her dream of working as a social worker.

"I never imagined that COVID would happen. I moved from Ontario just a week before everything was closed in P.E.I."

She found it difficult to settle in because her job was at a daycare, which shut down due to the pandemic. So, she applied elsewhere.

After attending interviews by phone and video, she got the job as a support worker at QCRS.

"When I started at this house, my clients used to pull my hair, smack my head, bite and scratch my hands."

But after working with them for three years, she has noticed changes in their behaviour.

Seshna has fond memories of a number of clients, including one she has spent the last three years tending to his personal needs.

"He is quite expressive and he can talk but not clearly. If he wants something, he will ask with 'Excuse me.' But now he got my name, and whenever he needs something, he says, 'Hey Anna, can you get me those?' It's a small thing, but it brings joy to me."

Her client can't remember the names of other clients or workers who have been in the home longer. This makes Seshna feel special and happy about the bond she made with him.

"You get the respect when you give them the respect," said Seshna.

Some people in the house have families, but some don't. Mostly it's run by government funding and donations from sponsors.

"Two years back, we had a client. He had a mother, and she was a drug abuser. The government took him from his mother because she couldn't look after her own son. Now he is in a safe place."

Everyone in the home has their own story, said Seshna. Some parents leave their children there because they can't tend to their needs. And some parents are already nearing their senior years.

"Sometimes their families visit them and take them out on weekends for a meal or supper."

Seshna has had good and bad experiences while working as a support worker. But at the end of the day, she doesn't regret choosing her path and wouldn't trade it for anything.

"Whenever you provide something to them, the smile they give you makes me realize that it's all worth it."

Most experiences have been mind-opening for her. They taught her how to treat people the right way.

"It's more than helping. I didn't choose social work. It chose me."