A daughter of an educator, I have grown to love education. From my very early years, I have admired my mother working hard at her desk, reading, preparing for the next day, reviewing assessments and evaluations. I have watched my mother being very active with the education department and taking part in events hosted by UNICEF, while residing in Haiti. Today, after having lived in the United States for 15 years, I continue to watch my mother demonstrate this same passion, working with children and their families, educating them for a better future, as I follow in her footsteps.
Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on January 22nd, 1987, I am Gaetane Saint-Victor, the first born of my parents. I have a younger brother, who is a veteran of the war in Iraq. He is married and has a twenty-nine months old daughter, my first niece and first goddaughter. I am a newlywed of three months.
I grew up in Port-au-Prince, Haiti where I lived the first 13 years of my life, and attended Institution du Sacré-Coeur. I migrated to Miami Florida in March 2000. I graduated from North Miami Senior High School in 2004 at the age of 17 and pursued my college degree at ST Thomas University. I graduated in 2007 with my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Global Leadership Liberal Arts, with minors in Philosophy and Religious Studies. In 2011, I graduated from Barry University with my Master of Social Work degree. Today, I am enrolled at Carlos Albizu University in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program.
An active member of the Church, I call it my second home. In 2005, I participated in the Miss Notre Dame D’Haiti Pageant and became the first Miss Notre Dame. Today, I am the chair of the pageant committee. I am currently the president of the women ministry at Notre Dame D’Haiti Catholic Church, called Ladies of Essence. I am also a Catechist, as well as a lector. I am also a Sant La Class II Fellow.
Today, a master’s level social worker, and a registered intern, I have a strong passion to help those in need, to be in the service of my community. After seeing so many children experiencing and living nightmares from day to day, I have come to realize much more help is needed in the community. As a professional, I have worked with people with disabilities, infants, children and adults alike, as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, helping them become rehabilitated. I have worked as a therapist providing individual, family, and couple counseling to the children and their families, by doing both school visits as well as home visits. I currently work for Miami Dade County Public Schools at Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary school as a Student Success Coach, helping the lowest 75 students when it comes to academics, behavior and attendance. I have in the past, and continue today to collaborate with the school counselor, teachers as well as parents to develop a plan and goals that would best fit the child. I am in the leadership team at the school and I take great part in decisions that will benefit our children.
While being in the service of others and after watching my mother for so many years, I have come to realize my true calling. I have grown to love working with children, with adolescents and their parents, and I have developed a very strong passion for helping our youngsters gain a better future. For years, I have always wanted to be in the service of others, and completing this program would mean that I would be able to give back to my community in a much greater way than I already am. I strongly believe that the social contract must be a great part of one’s life.