Time Well Spent

I loved my coursework throughout my graduate program in Early Childhood Studies.  It really pushed my thinking, helped me to be more reflective in my work, and inspired me to research the things that were important to me.  I also became very acquainted with different job opportunities in my field, organizations that I can be part of, and how I can make a difference in the early childhood field in general.  I have become accustomed to being a researcher and a writer and hope to continue to pursue this discovered passion.

Throughout the program, I continued working at the same organization as the children's program director.  My practices have changed and I have become better as I have gone through this course and learned skills to better manage teams, communicate, be accepting of differences, rely on the strength I find in others, and dream.  I have gained insight into the cultures and customs of the families I serve, have learned strategies to keep families involved, and gained perspectives on the value of building positive relationships.

The greatest passion that has come from this course is my role and responsibility to educators in the field of early childhood.  They work hard, relentless hours, and put their heart and souls into their work.  They do this for little monetary compensation and yet they carry on.  One teacher who consistently works with children with challenging behaviors reported to me, "I get hit, kicked, or bit daily. I love my kids, but it is so hard to take this every day. I am leaving on vacation for a week and I'm so sad to leave them and I'm so worried about my kids and what they will do without me."  The internal stress and conflict we go through on our own just to turn around and give more love and more guidance to help children is amazing.  This is what drives me to develop a system that will better support teachers in their struggle to love and guide while carrying the weight and stress that comes with caring for children.  My capstone project and the learning throughout my master's degree was not just doing the assignments, it was learning what I can do to better support the educators in my field in the areas that they need it the most.

I appreciate all those who have shared their voice, their opinions, their experiences, their methods, and their lives with me these past two years.  I have learned so much from my colleagues and my professors.  I have loved to try new things and get new ideas and gain understanding of how others are on the same path.  Mostly, I loved to see so many who had the passion I do to work in the early childhood field.  For some reason I believed I was going to be in very small classes with only a few others in the field and I was delighted to see how many people are dedicated to changing lives in early childhood. 

Thank you to all who have supported me and shared with me. I bid you farewell and good luck in your future endeavors.
Kelly