Why I want to advocate.

I have always been out spoken. Even as a child I had a big mouth, and for the most part I used it for good (even if I was a little annoying).  When I was little we used to have dinner every Saturday at my grandparents’ house. This would include my entire family.  Now my mother and father did not smoke, but it seemed like all of my aunts and uncles did.  When I was about 8 or 9, I protested going to my grandparents for Saturday dinner. I told them that I could not breathe with the smoke in the house and that it was hurting my body. I even went as far as to make a sign and hang it on the front door.  It took a while, but I was persistent, and finally one day my grandmother said if you smoke you have to do it outside. This is when I realized how influential a voice could be.

From that point on I always fought for what was right and just, even if it got me in trouble. I did this at school and in the work place, which eventually ended in me quitting a job of 8 years.  This was a sad moment in my life , but I was not going to work for a company who did not respect their employees.

This year was an exciting one for me. I had a baby this year, and he has helped me realize the true meaning of life. With him came a new set of responsibilities and new passions. While I was pregnant with him I participated in our local Advocacy day. Making my rounds to government officials stressing the importance of quality early childhood education.  This was an exciting moment in my life, because I was doing something I had always dreamed of. I was at the state capitol and I was confessing my concerns to the people who have the power to change things.

This field needs a voice, because we are speaking for those who cannot do so themselves. It is important that we get people involved in advocating for early childhood education, so we can better the lives of children who may not have the same advantages as other children. I think that as I gain knowledge in this field I can strengthen my advocacy skills, and become more confident.  I have the passion, and that is important when working in this field. If you are numb to the environment that surrounds you, you will not do anything to change it.  I try to be aware of everything, and I have learned that some people do not like that.  Where I worked before it seemed like everything was great if we just stayed quiet about certain situations. The minute I voiced my opinion, it was like it was too much of a hassle to fix things that were not working, so they just stayed the same.

I am at the point in my life where I do not care if it is too much work, or too hard to do something that is right. I want to do the best I can to enhance the lives of the children I work with, and I will do that as long as I am able to.

 

coming to an end.

First off, it has been great getting to know everyone the last 8 weeks.  Doing these blog assignments allowed us to become a little more laid back and get more personal. It was nice reading about every ones experiences and stories. I wish everyone the best in the rest of their studies, and career. We are here to educated ourselves, so we can educate others, and make a difference. Good luck girls!

Anna

One of my hardest good-bye moments was when I left my job. I had been at my job for 7 years. I started right out of high school and made many friends there. I worked my way up from a floater position, to the program coordinator and head preschool teacher. All of my early childhood education moments happened there, all of my experience was gained from this one place. These people guided me in my career. My boss became a very close friend and mentor. I was surrounded by women who were encouraging and powerful.  As the years passed I became one of them. I was helping the younger staff, teaching them and mentoring them.  Closing this chapter of my life and leaving this group of women was probably one of the hardest times in my life. But with the pain came joy and a new chapter in my life-motherhood. If I did not have my son, I would still be there working, growing and learning. But it was time for me to part ways, and take all my knowledge I gained from there and apply it to my own life.  And use this to further my career in the early childhood field. 

 

When I left the center to go on maternity leave they threw me a baby shower. This was very special to me and everyone involved, because even though it was never said people knew I may not be coming back.  There was a sense of joy and also sadness from my coworkers.

 

It is hard for me to say I will feel a sense of sadness when finishing up my Masters. I never really got a chance to connect with anyone in this program. Maybe I did not put myself out there enough. Or maybe it was because I stopped going to school when I was pregnant, so I lost contact with some of the girls I started the program with. Needless to say it will be hard to end this chapter in my life, because it has been a long time coming and I am ready to start a career.

 

I think that adjourning is essential in teamwork because it provides an opportunity for closure. If you leave something without ending it, you feel a sense of emptiness.