Now that I am an adult, I still depend on friends and family for support in life, but there is another group that has come to mean so much to my success and that is my colleagues at work. I think when you work in a human service field, it is so important to surround yourself with individuals that share the passion that you have for the work and, fortunately, that is the case in my current environment. The teachers I work with and my peers on the administrative level view their daily work as part of a mission to serve and support children and families.
In addition, there are other, more simple supports that I take advantage of in my daily life. I am a list maker and a planner keeper, and without them I am much less productive and often feel that I am unable to then support others. I am a single woman with a house of her own. I have learned to fix and repair many things, but thankfully I have people in my life that can offer advice or help with projects that are overwhelming to me. For example, I just had a tree pruned in my yard by a professional. But a few years ago, my friend Marcy came over and helped me trim it up with her little saw. It may not have been the best, but it was nice to know she was willing and equipped for the situation!
Without all of these supports in my life, I know that it would be tough to get out of bed every day. Early education is hard work and without a strong group of colleagues and teachers to remind me of the importance of the work each day, the passion for the mission may diminish and it may become more like just a job instead of a calling. In addition, without family and friends to share it with at the end of the day, life is a series of days strung together until the end. It is all about relationships! I believe we were created as social beings, not meant to live in isolation. As an introvert, I do enjoy my alone time, but for the most part, I crave the companionship of others.
Imagine if I lived in a part of the world that experiences daily violence, oppression, or poverty. I may not be allowed to pursue my chosen career path or to further my education as I am doing now. I may live in constant fear of injury or death. I may worry about where my next meal would come from, or how to secure the resources to survive. In this scenario, the most important supports would be safe shelter, financial resources, and the opportunity to be heard. It would be so important for me to have an outlet for expressing the desires and dreams that I think we are all born with. For me, those desires and dreams are related to improving the lives of young children and families locally and globally. However, without the access to a safe and secure environment, food, water, clothing, and the provisions for other basic needs, the pursuit of a dream would be nearly impossible. I think this can be applied to the increase in refugee and relocated children and families that we are seeing, not only in my area, but throughout the states. We need to be sensitive to the needs they have for basic security and resources, as well as the dreams and desires they carry with them.
