Time Well Spent!

I signed up to begin this program while out on maternity leave. My classes started the same week I returned back to work. My son was six weeks old at the time. This weekend, as we work to complete our last remaining assignments, my family and I are celebrating my son’s second birthday! So I have so many reasons to be thankful for today!!

This journey has truly been both challenging and rewarding. This program has provided me a chance to further my education, my personal goal for some time, even as a mother of two small children, wife, guardian of two additional children and full time Pre-K educator. This program has also given me purpose. I now feel accomplished. I set out to reach a goal, and though very difficult at times, I met my goal. I’m done!! I am oh, so proud of myself as well as all of my colleagues that I have encountered throughout this program!

Something that has stood out to me is good communication. I have already begun to focus more deeply on better communication in both my personal and professional life. Communication is so important in so many different realms of our lives and I want to ensure that my communication skills are as effective as they can be. So many of our problems can be resolved, (in many cases, before they even begin), with good communication skills.

Another concept that has resonated with me is the idea that we have to be sure that we are aware of our own biases. This requires us to evaluate ourselves often and as needed. We need to understand what is important to us; our values, our beliefs, our traditions and how they may affect the ways that we interact with others.

My long term goal is to work towards implementing my Capstone Project to some extent, if not fully. The project was enlightening for me and required me to brainstorm issues and resolutions that may actually work out and prove to be beneficial for my community. It is time to begin to address the issues underlying my community rather than talking about it. I am ready to be that change.

To Dr. Darragh, thank you so much for your instruction, your wisdom, guidance and more than anything patience. This course has been one of the most trying for me. I have had so many changes going on in all aspects of my life; some more trying that others. I have been determined to get through, but there were many times when my weary mind wanted to convince me to do otherwise. Again, I appreciate your patience and consideration. You have truly been a gem!

To my colleagues, we’ve reached the finish line. We have made it.. THANK GOD!  I pray nothing but success and blessings to you all. Stay focused and continue to strive for the best!! Much love to you all!!

Job/Roles in the ECE Community National/Federal Level

Pre-K Now is an organization working to promote the idea that quality preschool education is essential to the foundation of children’s learning. The program works to further support the idea that children will only build on the foundation created through quality preschool which will raise performance in later days.    [http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/archived-projects/pre-k-now]

Zero to Three supports the idea that the earliest relationships and experiences a child has with parents and other caregivers dramatically influences brain development, social-emotional and cognitive skills, and future health and success in school and life. This organization works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the family and community connections critical to their well-being and development. [https://www.zerotothree.org/]

The National Black Child Development Institute is a national resource agency providing programs, publications, advocacy and trainings related to early childhood care and education; health and wellness; literacy and family engagement. NBCDI supports and works primarily with Black children birth through age eight and their families. Their mission is to improve and advance the quality of life for Black children and their families through education and advocacy. [https://www.nbcdi.org/]