Eli Agay

06/25/2025

Still taking it all in.

05/14/2025

WHY ONTARIO?

I got this question a lot when I moved from San Francisco to Toronto in 2023. This right here is the answer- to be a Registered Social Services Worker in the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers

When I planned my career shift from Corporate Human Resources to Community Services, I carefully planned my path and chose to move where I found that my practice will be best supported and guided. I am proud to join the professional & ethical community of regulated practitioners who deliver excellent services to Ontarians.

05/10/2025

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED & CONQUERED

It feels surreal to finally post about this. I have officially completed my Social Services Worker Diploma at Seneca Polytechnic and will have the final stop at the Convocation next month. It seemed like yesterday when I posted about my reintroduction content when I moved to Toronto from San Francisco and have taken the biggest career leap from Corporate Human Resources to Community Services.

During my 2 year program, I was literally the title of my favorite movie- Everything Everywhere All at Once 😅. From interacting with future students during open houses, being a peer mentor for 4 semesters, a campus tour guide to new students, a student leader as President of the Social Services Worker Club Seneca@York (2024-2025), Student Ambassador for the Faculty of Continuing Education, Consent Ambassador in the Gender-based and Sexual Violence Prevention Education Team, Student Help Representative in The Service Hub all the way to supporting & cheering for our new alumni members during convocations, I was every time I wear my uniform and name tag with the goal to provide the same sense of community that I have enjoyed during my stay. Thank you Seneca International for recognizing my contribution and including me in this year’s International Student Achievement Award winners.

Surrounded by an amazing set of people from my friends, instructors, club advisors & peers, management and colleagues in my on campus & off campus jobs- I was able to finish my program strong being in the President’s Honour List for Winter 2025. Can’t help to reflect using the Ecological Systems Theory as I look back how my surrounding system gave me courage to carry on and helped me heal & persevere.

When the transcripts came out, I immediately called my grandmother in the Philippines and celebrated (with tears of joy) that I will be walking the convocation with High Honours. To my family, your support has given me the resilience that I needed as I navigated the toughest times. From Tres days during my young Uni days to 4.0 GPA, your trust gave me the confidence to bet on me.

Excited to celebrate our hard work with my fellow graduates at Meridian Hall!

04/17/2025

Beaming with Pride

I can’t deny it. I was always beaming with pride every time I answer the question “Where are you doing your placement?” in the past 8 months. It has been a privilege to grow my capacity and competency at the Women's Residence portfolio under City of Toronto’s Toronto Shelter & Support Services.

All the theories and frameworks that I have learned at Seneca Polytechnic on Anti-Oppression, Intersectionality, Housing-First, Harm Reduction, Strengths-based, Survivor-driven and Trauma-informed approaches have been embedded in me as I get to observe and experience it from the team and apply them during client interactions. Thank you Jackie Muir for being an intentional and supportive supervisor. You have provided me a safe space for learning and I will definitely miss working with you and the entire team! To the portfolio manager, Carol McDonald, your leadership will always inspire me in my next career chapter.

Much appreciation to Field Placement Coordinator Valerie Vickery who has patiently worked with me last Summer in securing this placement. To my Field Liaison Johanna Warner, MSW, RSW- it was a pleasure to be in your class for the past three semesters! You have been generous in showing us the ropes as we process our placement experiences.

My last day coincided with the retirement celebration for John who has shown what showing up and doing consistent great work is all about in the last 30 years. Grateful to have served the clients alongside the City of Toronto’s Inside Workers! Looking forward in crossing paths and working with you all again in the future.

03/26/2025

"Leave a Legacy"

My key takeaway from yesterday's Women's Hour: Food & Fashion with Filipino-Canadians on a Mission, an event hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto. It was an insightful and inspirational session featuring Abby Albino of Rise Tribe, Sunshine Asuncion of Kain Tayo Food Village and Charmaine Ramirez of Pwrforward as well as an amazing showcase of Filipino culture featuring our handwoven fabrics in the fashion show produced by Couture Culture & Arts - CCA that is founded by Claris Manglicmot.

As I'm about to complete my Social Services Worker Diploma, I look forward to bring my learnings, passion & purpose on Mental Health and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Education closer to the community and collaborate with more of these Filipinas in a mission; working to leave a legacy but more so, empower others to forge theirs.

Also in photos:
-Consul General Angelica C. Escalona
-Kitchener Community Builder Vilma Aquino-Rafanan
-Paula Saraza of OMNI Television, a Seneca Polytechnic alumna

09/05/2024

How was your Summer?

This was the icebreaker question for my first in-person class this semester and mine was a very Seneca Summer ❤️🖤🤍

Grateful for the trust of our Social Services Worker (General) faculty as they have involved me in promoting our program to future & new students, thanking our community partners and welcoming my fellow students from the Yorkgate campus who are now all attending the Seneca @ York campus starting this Fall 2024.

Summer indeed went by so fast when I started my Student Ambassador journey for the Faculty of Continuing Education as well as a Peer Educator for Consent @ Seneca. These roles have allowed me to know & engage more with the Seneca community and serve with purpose & passion through Sexual Violence Prevention Education.

Sharing some Summer snaps:
-Radio Interview for SSW program promotion (In photo: Ryan Flanagan, Seneca Polytechnic Media & External Relations Specialist and Kayla of KiSS 92.5)
-Community Appreciation Day for the SSW partner agencies (In photo: Biljana Bruce, School of Community Services Academic Chair)
-Open House sharing Seneca’s Part-Time Programs (In photo: Salina He, Faculty of Continuing Education Administrative Coordinator)
-Empowerment in Community Drop-in session in collaboration with Counselling Services
-Consent@Seneca Bystander Intervention presentation for Seneca Residences
-Consent@Seneca portfolio presentation for Seneca Athletics & Recreation
-Student Mentoring in Life and Education (SMILE) program Peer Mentor Training (In photo: SMILE Peer Mentors)
-Fall 2024 Welcome Day as Campus Tour Guide (In photo: Fall 2024 Seneca @ York new students)

I’m excited for my last year in Seneca as I continuously serve as a Student Ambassador, Peer Mentor and President for the Social Services Worker Club Seneca @ York (and hopefully, continue my streak in the President’s Honour List as I finish my Diploma 🙏🏽)

03/21/2024

Humility, Competence and Integrity

Hello! Bonjour! Mabuhay! I’m Anna Melissa Agay and my peers call me Eli; a Filipino Social Services Worker international student at Seneca Polytechnic @ York.

It is a privilege to be one of your student governor candidates and a responsibility that I am ready to perform with humility, competence and integrity.

This student representative seat is OURS. Let’s take it by making sure you get to cast your vote on April 1-2. Together, we will make sure that our voices are amplified and integrated in the planning & implementation of Seneca Polytechnic’s strategies.

Get to know more about me:
https://students.senecapolytechnic.ca/spaces/218/board-of-governors/wiki/view/13701/anna-melissa-agay

01/17/2024

Still at the early stage of my field placement and my heart is already bursting with joy and cuteness. A kindergarten student gave me her artwork instead of taking it home

😭😭😭😭😭

01/04/2024

Volunteering has been a self-care practice that I discovered back in San Francisco. Putting my volunteering activities on pause due to the school term ahead feels unsettling.

Putting this here as a good reminder of the solace that I found amidst papers, staple removal, labeling and organizing alphabetically and per year while I play whatever song or podcast to put me in rhythm.

01/01/2024

Happy New (Leap) Year!

📸:

12/23/2023

digital billboard along the longest street in the world- Yonge Street (specifically in Toronto 🇨🇦)

As I spend my first Canadian winter, I can’t help but to miss my hike,bike and beach adventures in the Philippines with friends & loved ones.

12/23/2023