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.