Finding My Part to be Played

I began the journey to determine my part to be played in this arena of early childhood education only 594 days ago.  Along the way, I have learned so many things about myself, the field, and the vast amount of work that still needs to be done.  When I began the program, my specialization was public policy and advocacy.  I soon decided that my passions lied closer to the front lines and so I changed to teaching adults.  I am looking forward to taking what I have learned and designing and delivering informative and helpful trainings for classroom staff and administration.

We are living in an amazing age of brain research and revelation, slight priority shifts in government, and a renewed passion for the future of our children that begins before birth.  In addition to a reminder of the processes of development, my work in the diversity and equity class opened my eyes to the biases and assumptions I have as an educator.  As I uncovered them, I saw the impact they left on my work and have become more aware of the ways in which I interact with others, plan for learning, and respond to concerns.

I truly enjoyed the course on research as it allowed me to develop a more discerning way to process information and make it useful to others.  Throughout the course, I found articles that informed me about important topics like attachment theory and emotional development and they formed the outline for my capstone project.  I have a deeper understanding of the science behind the development and the work that needs to be done in schools and communities to support children and families.

Finally, my coursework on teaching adults was insightful as I applied to to my own learning style and the needs of the staff with whom I currently work.  It also allowed me to view other trainers and the way they addressed their audiences in a more objective manner.  I could identify with some that struggled to connect with the audience and admire others that so effortlessly moved about the class sharing personal stories that built relationships in seconds!

My passion will forever be working with young children and their families.  I hope someday to pair it with my passion for travel and take my knowledge and expertise to a foreign country and work with children and families there.  In a recent assignment, we were asked to research international organizations that worked with children, families, and communities.  Several of them have job opportunities in fascinating places like Mozambique, Mali, and New Zealand.  Ahhh...someday!

I want to thank all of the classmates and instructors that have made this journey with me.  You have inspired, encouraged, challenged, and supported me in ways I'll forever be grateful for.  I have learned more about myself through your stories and postings and I am so encouraged by the courageous work you (we) all do.  It takes a very special type of person to lead in the field of early childhood education and there is a very strong group emerging from this program.  I wish you all the best of luck and implore you to pursue the dream you outlined in your speech from 15 years in the future!  

Sincerely, 

Katherine