My Supports

Having a wonderful support system can be the fundamental resource of one's success. I have a lot of people in my corner who support me; my mother, my father, my brother, my grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and my husband, and even though my daughter is only one, she is one of my biggest supporters, although she doesn't know it. My daughter just recently turned one, but she is my biggest motivation to wake up every morning to do what I love to do. The fact that I am her teacher, and having her in the classroom with me all day is a plus. Sometimes, when I encounter those days, when things just seem a little overwhelming, my husband is there to comfort me, anyway possible. Sometimes, just one of his amazing foot rubs or delicious homemade bowls of soup, or just a simple, it's going to be ok, it's just one day, helps make those days a little bit easier it bear. 

My mother is another huge supporter of mine. She has stood behind me in every decision that I have made. No matter how indecisive I was, although she encouraged me to channel all my passions into one particular field, she never rushed or forced me to do so. When I made the decision to follow my passion for children and study to become an Early Childhood Educator, she herself, took time to seek resources for me in support of this field. She always encouraged me to do my best, and that it was okay if I didn't make straight A's, as long as I gave 100% and did the best that I could do. Although, that didn't stop me from maintaining the Honor Roll for three years and becoming Who's Who Amongst American High School Students, as well as, graduating Cum Laude with my A.A. and B.A. The love I share for my mother is beyond words, and I am truly thankful for her love and support. 

If I could imagine to have a challenge, one that I do not have, that would cause a challenge in my Field of Early Childhood would be Dyslexia. Working in the field of Education, Reading and Writing is a very essential tool needed in this field. Working with children and encouraging essential tools like reading, language, phonemic awareness, enunciation, etc., requires a level of comprehension on behalf of the teacher. For me, I would find it extremely difficult to teach objectives such as reading, language, phonemic awareness and enunciation if I suffered from difficulties in reading, writing, and language comprehension. Not to say that it wouldn't be possible, but it would certainly pose a challenge in my confidence and my ability to produce as an effective Early Childhood Educator. In order for me to produce as effective as I know I would be able to, I would definitely need a strong support system all around me. A support system that would help me to improve my reading and writing level, enhance my language acquisition by challenging me, and providing me with the emotional and tangible support that would help me to grow through this challenge. 

My Connections to Play

Growing up in Queens, New York, I was always encouraged to play outside, not only by my parents, but by the many friends I had in the neighborhood. If my parents noticed that I have been in the house past a certain time, they always suggested for me to go outside to play with my friends, sometimes even shoving me out the door (smiling). My parents influenced my love for playing by sometimes even coming outside and playing with me. We would play board games outside, jump rope, hide and seek, I Spy, or sometimes just take a walk around the block. My parents nurtured my ability to learn through play, without even knowing it. My most fondest memories are with my parents when we would play outside together. During these moments, I saw a side of my parents that I loved, the fun side. I also learned, during these moments, that my parents can be as big of a kid as I was, and that was okay. 

In this day and age, the term play has taken on a whole new meaning. In this generation, the term play refers to someone being "dissed", or insulted, or sitting in front of a computerized game, an iPad or video game. During my childhood, to play meant to run around outside, go hang out with friends, go rollerblading in the neighborhood, jump double dutch, jump hop scotch, or anything else that required exercise. During my childhood times, obesity was much more along the lines of endangered, where as now, it's more like an epidemic.  

The three quotes below simply define how play holds a vital role in my life and the lives of our young children. The first quote is a prime example of where 'play' resided my life, hidden. My husband is the biggest adult/"kid" I know. He loves to play his video games, loves when we play wrestle, and is always playing jokes on me. The second quote clearly defines why I found his jokes and his love for the video games so un-laughable. During my teenage to young adult stages, I lost my love to play. I was much more concerned about so many other irrelevant things, that I lost what it meant to truly have fun. The third quote reflects my thanks that my parents planted that seed of what it truly means to play and have fun, as later on in my marriage, I regained my ability to play and have fun. Now...he tells me that I play to much...(smiling).  

My hope for our young children is that they will redefine the term 'play' and appreciate its true definition before they too find themselves growing old because they stopped playing. If children understood the in depth truth of what it means to 'play' then obesity would decrease, children would learn to expand every aspect of their development, and become much more appreciative of the simple things they do have, as opposed to the expensive technological gadgets that they believe they deserve. 

My Representation of 'Play'

"In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play" - Friedrich Nietzsche, German Philosopher

"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing" - George Bernard Shaw

"It is a happy talent to know how to play" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Below are two essential play items that I loved to play with as a young child. 

                             
Double Dutch Rope                                                       Board game called Sorry

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are essential in life. At some point, people develop relationships with people of all walks of life. It just so happen that I developed a relationship with a man who was born in the same hospital as me, one year apart, lived in the same state as me as a child, lived approximately 15 mins away from me and never knew him, shared the exact same culture, views and values and never met until I moved to Georgia, at the age of 20. This man is now my husband of three beautiful years. Outside of the fact that we share so many similarities in our lives, we established a Secure and positive relationship. We made it a mission to communicate with one another no matter the situation. We build each other up and sharpen one another in our times of need. Despite our efforts to maintain this positive relationship, there is no perfect relationship. We have our disputes, but have established such a dedicated, strong, influential and positive relationship, that we have learned, and are still learning, how to overcome those trials and move on. My relationship with my husband gets me through me day. He motivates me to be true to myself in all aspects of my life. He pushes me to strive for the best and to give my all, while reminding me that he is right behind me, supporting me as I go. Another positive relationship I have is one with my parents. Growing up in a nuclear household, both of my parents played an active role in my life and everyday endeavors. I have learned so much from my mom and dad and I am truly grateful to have such a strong and positive relationship with them both.  

Powerful Quote About Children

How we treat our children is a true reflection of us. One quote that I found to be so compelling is a quote by Nelson Mandela, 

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children".  - Nelson Mandela

This statement is a true eye opener in how we as Early Childhood Educators treat our children. Are we not a part of society? Do we not have the ability to change our society? Most theories and ideologies of children are all socially constructed with no concrete defining census behind the treatment of children in our society, and if there is, point proven in why we need to change it. There are so many children, all over the world, who are mistreated, used and abused daily and so many others who are living in poverty. The change begins with us. 

“Humans are not born with the capacity to care for themselves; they are completely dependent on someone else. A primary caregiver, who is generally the infants’ mother, father, or principle guardian, is responsible for nurturing and fostering growth within the infant” (Ranson & Urichuk, 2008, p. 129).

 

Violence and Chaos and its Effects

Violence and chaos are two stressors that can go hand in hand; with violence comes chaos. Children, especially at the tender age of infancy and toddler, are not equipped to handle and cope with such devastating, life-changing trauma. Exposure to stressors like violence and chaos leave traumatizing effects on a child's life, as early as infancy, and can follow them into adulthood. In my many years as an Early Childhood Educator, I have interacted with many children from all walks of life. I vividly recall a young boy, four years of age, who was clearly exposed to violence and chaos. It was during our "Community Week", in which we invite community helpers (police officers, fire fighters, doctors, dentist, etc.) to visit with the children and speak about how they help the community. On this particular day, we had Police Officers to visit. All the children we sitting on the floor, kris-cross applesauce, and ready to listen. As the Police Officers entered the classroom, I noticed this little boy become very fidgety and nervous. Not wanting to alarm the other children, I slowly walked over to him, in efforts to comfort him; but before I could reach him, he begins screaming at the top of his lungs, tears running down his little face, yelling repeatedly, "Please don't take my daddy!Please don't take my daddy!". At that point, myself and the director of the center comforts him as we escorted him out of the classroom. At this point, I too had tears in my eyes, which I tried to hold back, because I have never experienced this before. Words cannot describe the pain I felt in my heart for this little boy. The director encouraged me to go back into the classroom with the other children, but I reassured him that my assistant and the additional teacher were capable of monitoring the other children. There was no way I could leave this little boy, after what he just experienced. Later that afternoon, I spoke with his mother and informed her of what happened earlier that day. To my surprise, she seemed quite nonchalant about everything, and replied it's a part of life, we all got to grow up at some point.  The amount of anger and mixed emotions that boiled up inside of me were too much to handle, and I thought it in my best interest to cut the conversation short, report the conversation and her response to my director, and made a mental note to pay close attention to this particular little boy, as he well needed to be comforted and reassured that he was in a safe environment when he was at school, and in my presence.
Brazil is the one place that I am longing to visit. Brazil has the highest poverty rate in the world.
"The disparity between the rich and poor in Brazilian society is one of the largest. The richest 1% of         Brazil's population control 50% of its income. The poorest 50% of society live on just 10% of the country's wealth, while the poorest 10% receive less than 1%!" (http://www.childrenofbahia.com/childpoverty.htm). Most poverty amongst children in Brazil is caused by abandonment, and HIV among parents. Survival on the streets involve finding foods in bins and garbage cans, exploitation, running drugs and stealing. Other children turn to drugs, such as glue sniffing, because it is so inexpensive, as a means of escape from the realization of their poverty stricken lives. The affects of drugs and exploitation on children in Brazil are tremendous and traumatizing to their physical and mental health.

References

Child Poverty in Brazil-Facts, Reasons and what can be done. Retrieved from       http://www.childrenofbahia.com/childpoverty.htm

The Breast is the Best

Breastfeeding is one of the most preeminent forms of bonding with your infant, not to mention, the only source in providing your infant with the most essential nutrients and vitamins necessary for healthy brain and bodily development. The specific fats and sugars in breast milk make it more digestible and better for the brain than any formula (Drover et al., 2009; Riordan 2005; Berger 2012). Breastfeeding is a very meaningful topic to me because my mother was breastfed as an infant, my mother breastfed me as an infant, and I continued on the tradition by breastfeeding my daughter as an infant. Unfortunately, I was only able to breastfeed by daughter up to six weeks, but she was still able to receive those essential nutrients and vitamins she needed. In the future, when I am blessed with another child, I will definitely breastfeed. After reading about breastfeeding and its many other advantages, such as enhancement in developmental skills at an early age and promotes weight loss, I will definitely seek other resources that will enable me to breastfeed as long as possible.

In the United States, we are blessed with laws and regulations that protect mothers and permit breastfeeding in public arenas, however, places like Russia, have a ways to go. In Russia, women are banned from breastfeeding in public. Not only is breastfeeding considered socially unacceptable, but the exposure of a woman's breast suggest a form of sexuality and grounds for harassment. A mother is not allowed to leave her home until she has weaned her child off of the breast, but can still provide breast milk for her infant by pumping or only breastfeeding in her home.
Despite these laws and regulations, women are still judged and ridiculed here in the United States. I encourage all mothers, young and old, to freely breastfeed their children, whether in private or in public...its your right as a mother, in the land of the free.

The Birthing Experience of My Daughter

The birth of my daughter was my first experience of childbirth. I remember it was a Wednesday night, and I had just taken a shower. I dressed and climbed into the bed, ready to sleep. I remember feeling like I was urinating on myself, and I got up and ran back to the restroom. Just as I stood up, I remember feeling a release, and then more water began to run down my legs. I was excited and scared all at the same time. I ran into the bedroom and told my husband that it was time. He jumped out of bed and we were on our way to hospital. I was accompanied by my mom, my dad, my husband, my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law. During the delivery, my mom, husband and mother-in-law remained in the room, while my brother-in-law and dad waited in the waiting room. As I began to feel the contractions, I remember thinking “ok, this is not that bad…I can handle this”. The nurses and Dr. made my family and I feel extremely comfortable. They provided me with physical and emotional support, they monitored the health and heart rate of my daughter and I regularly, and the overall service was amazing. As the contractions began to get stronger the pain began to get worse and worse, till the point where it was just unbearable. I pleaded with my mom, to please call the nurse for the epidural. I remember cringing anytime someone touched me, outside of my husband. The Anesthesiologist came shortly after and administered the epidural. Minutes after, my Dr. entered and reassured me that I made it to 8 cm before getting the epidural, and suggested that my daughter would not be ready for delivery for another two, maybe three hours. Roughly, thirty to forty-five minutes later, I began to feel immense pressure. I called for the nurse and requested that the Dr. return because I knew my daughter was ready for arrival. To their surprise, my daughter was already crowning and ready for delivery. The whole delivery process was smooth and painless. After my little Olivia arrived, the Dr. allowed me to hold her, to initiate our mother/daughter bond by encouraging her to latch. She then placed her under an incubator, washed her up, and then placed her on the scale. She then held her by her hands, as Olivia griped the Dr.’s thumbs, and pulled her up in the air. The Dr. reassured me that she was extremely healthy and that her bodily functions were moving great. After completing a few more standard procedures, Olivia was wrapped up in a blanket and placed in her daddy’s arms. The whole process was a life changing experience for our entire family. My daughter is now 10 months and just as healthy and happy as she can be, thanks be to God.

Due to lack of technology and other vital tools needed for healthy deliveries and safe childbirth, many infants are born with lasting effects of insufficient childbirths. Without enough oxygen, children can suffer from mental disabilities, which can affect child development. There are many tests that nurses and Dr.'s may advice expectant mothers to take prior to delivery. Tests that may help detect signs of modified genes or chromosomes that can cause Down Syndrome, perhaps. Without accurate tools such as Doppler heart radars, Dr.'s may not be able to detect when a child has a low heart rate, which can also cause mental disabilities, or even death.

After reading about different child birthing rituals and practices in different parts of the world, I was fairly intrigued by the child birthing rituals of Native Americans. In comparison to my child birth experience, Native American expecting mothers do not lie down during childbirth, but instead, either stand, kneel or sit. When Olivia was born, the Dr. supported and gently withdrew her as she was being delivered, whereas, during Native American child birth, no one attempts to catch the baby during delivery, but allows the baby to fall onto a patch of leaves, placed under the mother. Native American mothers also undergo diverse post-delivery practices as well. After a child is born, for two years, the mother practices a ceremonial act of dipping their child into a river; a ritual that is said to strengthen the child that no deformation comes upon them.

Thank You

Thank You to my 6005 Early Childhood Community 

Its amazing the effect a few words of wisdom and support can have on an individual's life. 6005 community, I thank you for all your support, advice, guidance, and wisdom. As my mother taught me, you are never to old to learn, and I have truly learned a lot from you all. I love that fact that we all come from different walks of life, and yet have come together to uplift one another and support each other despite our inability to foresee the future. I have supported you with my experience, my wisdom and passion for early childhood, and you all have done the same for me. I wish my 6005 community all the best and continue to strive to be the best educator you can be. 

"When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts"

- Dalai Lama  

Three Ideals found from NAEYC and DEC: Code of Ethics

NAEYC

I - 1.7     To use assessment information to understand and support children's development and learning to support instruction and to identify children who may need additional services. 

- This is very significant to me in my field of Early Childhood Education. Without the most effective form of developmental and learning assessment, I fail as an Early Childhood professional in providing the most adequate learning environment that will encourage children to learn to their full capacity. Also, if we as educators, lack in the most accurate and effective assessment tools, we are unable to identify significant signs that can impact a child's childhood, and even up to adulthood. 

I - 2.2     To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve. 

- It is imperative that we provide a safe and secure environment for our children. As Early Childhood professionals, it is our duty to reassure parents that we are providing that safe and secure environment for their children. We also need to partner with our families, to become more involved in the education of their children, by encouraging an open-door policy; allowing the parents the option to come and volunteer as they see fit; encouraging family oriented activities at school, providing fun and tangible workshops for parents and guardians, and providing parents with tangible information such as information regarding School Readiness.

DEC 

Professional Development

# 4 - We shall support professionals new to the field by mentoring them in the practice of evidence and ethically based services. 

As pioneers in the Early Childhood Profession, I see it imperative for our more seasoned and well experienced teachers to guide new professionals coming into the early childhood field. With experience comes wisdom, and many of our experienced teachers obtain career changing knowledge and wisdom and fail as supporters by not sharing that knowledge and wisdom with new comers to the field. I love to share my experiences with new members of the early education field and enjoy helping in any way possible. I also love to receive knowledge and wisdom from experienced teachers, because this experience with help me to become a more effective teacher, and soon to be, Self-employed Childcare Owner.

Three Additional Useful Resources

Below are three additional useful resources in the Early Childhood Field:

1. B.F.T.S.
http://decal.ga.gov/

Bright From The Start is a program which provides a plethora of tangible and resourceful information for families, early childcare centers and the early childhood field. They also provide government resources for low income families, as well as, children with special needs.

2. N.A.E.Y.C
http://www.naeyc.org/

NAEYC Mission Statement

NAEYC's mission is to serve and act on behalf of the needs, rights and well-being of all young children with primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources (NAEYC Bylaws, Article I., Section 1.1).

Goals

NAEYC expresses its mission in terms of three broad goals:

1. Improving professional practice and working conditions in early childhood education.
2. Supporting early childhood programs by working to achieve a high-quality system of early childhood education.
3. Building a high-performing, inclusive organization of groups and individuals who are committed to promoting excellence in early childhood education for all young children. 

(Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/about/mission)

3. Zero to Three
http://www.zerotothree.org/

ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development.

Our mission is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life.
(Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/)

Expanding Your Resources

For anyone who is interested in working with children, or who may already be working with children, and would like to further your research in the Early Childhood field, here are a few useful resources from my current course, Foundations: Early Childhood.

 

 

NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf

NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf

NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller

FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/FPG_Snapshot_N33_EvidenceBasedPractice_09-2006.pdf

Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
 

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf

• Websites:
• • World Forum Foundationhttp://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Educationhttp://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP's mission.
  • Association for Childhood Education Internationalhttp://acei.org/
    Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

 

 Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children http://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhood http://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families http://www.zerotothree.org/
• WESTED http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
• Harvard Education Letter http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
• FPG Child Development Institute http://www.fpg.unc.edu/
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
• HighScope http://www.highscope.org/
• Children's Defense Fund http://www.childrensdefense.org/
• Center for Child Care Workforce http://www.ccw.org/
• Council for Exceptional Children http://www.cec.sped.org/
• Institute for Women's Policy Research http://www.iwpr.org/
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
• National Child Care Association http://www.nccanet.org/
• National Institute for Early Education Research http://nieer.org/
• Pre[K]Now http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
• Voices for America's Children http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute http://www.erikson.edu/

Inspirational Quote...cont'd

Inspirational Quotes

 

Below is one additional quote that I found inspirational, especially in the Early Childhood Education field. As teachers, we sometimes get distracted with our own goals, concerns, and everyday trials, that we sometimes forget why we do what we do as early childhood educators. During week 2 of my Master's Program, I viewed a video of Early Childhood Professionals who discussed their passions, motivations and wisdom in the Early Childhood field. One of the professionals, Renatta M. Cooper, made a statement that truly opened my eyes, and reminded me to look beyond my own personal distractions, but to realign my motivation and passions, not only as an Early Childhood Educator, but as a parent as well.  

 

 

“It’s not all about you, you have to take ego out of it and think

 

about what’s best for the child”

 

- Renatta M. Cooper



My Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

 

Below are just a few quotes that I found to be very inspirational and somewhat humorous...

Take a read...

 

 

“Developmentally appropriate practices are ways of teaching that vary for or adapt to the age and experience of the individual learner. So fundamentally the definition has not changed. Instead, it has been expanded to include the fact that not only do you have to consider children as individuals, but you also have to consider children as members of groups with their own cultural identities."

– Susan Bredekamp

 

“We cannot build our own future without helping others to build theirs.” – Bill Clinton

 

“You can put wings on a pig, but that doesn't make it an eagle.” – Bill Clinton

 



My Personal Childhood Web

My Personal Childhood Web

This post is dedicated to those who loved, cared and nurtured me as a child. Although I had many individuals who loved and nurtured me as a child, I want to share five of those individuals, who stand out above the rest.

-Jeanette Mckoy: My Mother

One of the most powerful and influential persons in my life is my mother, Jeanette Mckoy. She is by rock. She is the very woman that I strive to be as a wife, a mother and a supporter. My mother is by far my biggest supporter. My mother has influenced me not only through her words, but through her actions. My mother has shown me what it means to be an honest woman, what it means to devote myself to something/someone and how to do and be all of these things, without losing myself in the process. She has always encouraged me to go after my dreams and allow no one to deter me from accomplishing those dreams. She always says to me “Never sell yourself short. Shoot for the stars, because I know you can do it”.  She has always seen potential in me that I still don’t quite see in myself. The love and nurture my mother has given me is beyond words. She has loved and nurtured me in all domains of my life.  Now that I am older, I realize how much my mother has sacrificed for me; how she has given her blood, sweat and tears so that I could grow up in a safe, loving, nurturing environment.  My mother made me feel special by never making me feel like I was undeserving of anything. My mother provided for me all the things that she knew would establish a safe, loving and nurturing relationship between her and I.

-Anthony Mckoy: My Father

My dad is my pulse. I cannot imagine living in this life without my dad. Just to think of him makes me smile. In a nutshell, I love my dad. Let me tell you why he is so special, which would then explain how he makes me feel special. My dad has changed his whole life for me. At the age of 19, I gave my life to Christ and devoted to live a Christian life. Making this change in my life influenced me to encourage my parents to make the same change. Despite the obstacles and fears, my father is now a devoted Christian, serving as a Deacon in our church. I could not be any prouder of my dad. The thought of knowing that my dad, despite his fears, changed his life is why he is so special. My dad has provided me with more physical, social, emotional and mental support than I could ever ask for. No matter the cause or time of day, when I needed my dad, he was always there. He always made me feel important, like I was needed. As a child, my dad always went out of his way to make me smile, and as an adult, he was never afraid to express how much he loved me. My dad is a man of few words, but when he speaks, you can’t help but to listen and take heed. My dad always tells me, “You must always listen, before you speak”. Many times by mother tells me the day I was born, I changed my dad’s life, but in actuality, he has changed mine.

-Mrs. Chandler: My elementary School Counselor

Mrs. Chandler was one of the coolest counselors I have ever had. She made it clear that she had a special love for me. No matter what the case, Mrs. Chandler was always there. She always made sure that I had what I needed and more. She would come to my classroom to check on me periodically throughout the day, just to see how my day was going. Sometimes, if I was having a rough day, she would clear her schedule, just to talk with me about my problems. She was there to listen to my minute troubles, without blame or judgment. She allowed me to be myself with her, and to express my true feelings about anything. She used to always tell me “Be you and no one else”. Despite her love for me, she did not hesitate to chastise me when needed. I really appreciate all that Mrs. Chandler has done for me. She has contributed to my ability to be myself and to never be afraid to express my true feelings despite the subject.

-Mrs. Scott: My elementary Science Teacher

Mrs. Scott was one of my favorite teachers. She was a younger teacher, but very strong in her profession. She took her position as a teacher very seriously and I admired that about her. Mrs. Scott made it her mission to push me as far as I could go academically. I still remember that life changing conversation I had with Mrs. Scott. I just completed my Science exam, and just as I handed Mrs. Scott the exam, she asked me how I think I did. I told her I thought I did pretty well. The following day, she returned our exams, except mine. After class, before I could ask her for my exam, she asked me to sit down. She handed me my exam, and I saw that I received a C. Although I was accepting of my grade, Mrs. Scott was not. She explained that, in her eyes, I was not doing my best and to her, this was unacceptable. She asked me a question that no one has ever asked me before; she asked me what I was afraid of. Why was I so afraid to succeed? That question changed my life. I asked myself that question every day. Why was I so afraid to succeed? What was holding me back from wanting to be the best? Till this day, I continue to ask myself this question, and up to this day, I have yet to find an answer.

-Candis Swain: My Best Friend of 21 years.

Candis Swain was and still is my childhood best friend. We have been best friends since we were eight years old. Outside of my family, she was the first one to call me “nik”, a nickname that I love. Now, both married with children, we are still just as connected as we were 21 years ago. Candis inspires me through her actions and she motivates me through her determination and strong will to accomplish what others say she cannot. After so many years of friendship, Candis still shows how much I mean to her by always making time for me. Living in different states, becoming first-time moms at the same time and each starting a new chapter in our lives academically, things can be really hectic. But no matter how busy her schedule is, even if it is just a text message, she always lets me know that she’s thinking of me and praying for me and my family. We encourage each other when times get hard or when we feel life is beginning to weigh on our shoulders. Even as young children, she always encouraged me and challenged me to be the best that I could be, and was never afraid to show me how it’s done. I truly love Candis with all my heart and she is the best, best friend that any young girl from Queens, New York could ever ask for.

"When I was a child, I spake as a child....but when I became a man I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11)

Over the years, I have noticed my parents are getting younger and younger. I have noticed parents more neglectful and self-centered than ever before. Morals and standards have officially gone out the window. A child does not ask to come into the world, so as a 'PARENT'it is our responsibility to protect and provide for this child. This means, as a parent, you put away childish things and grow up. I hurt for my 'babies', who suffer because of parental ignorance and pride. Our young parents need guidance, love and motivation; not best friends. Please let us keep our young parents in prayer...

Faithful Motivation Unwavering Educational Support w/o Condemnation

 

 

Hello, my name is Nicole Cunningham. I am the younger of two siblings, born and raised in New York. I currently reside in Atlanta, Ga. I attended High School in Georgia, graduating at the age of 17. Immediately following, I attended Atlanta Metropolitan College, where I graduated Cum Laude, achieving my Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. I directly continued into my Bachelor’s program, graduating with my BA in Sociology. Working in Early Childhood for 9 years, my level of experience has granted me the ability to explore new interests, as well as challenges. Prior to working in the field of Early Childhood, the option of me becoming a center director, much less an Owner of an establishment were the farthest things from my thought process. Since engaging in such thoughts, it has forced me to conduct my own evaluation of myself and such qualities that make me who I am, as an individual. Entering into the field as a part-time after-school teacher, to a supervisory position as an Early Head Start Lead Teacher, I have learned a lot, not only in regards to Early Childhood Education, but also about myself. This field caused me to challenge my inner strengths in regards to patience, confidence and humility. I always believed that I lacked the quality of patience, but working in this field made me realize that my level of patience was beyond my expectations. I have learned to be confident in my work and achievements while remaining humble in the process.

 Working a full-time job, becoming a new mom, not to mention a full-time wife, and all the duties that come along with that, are just a few challenges I anticipate while adjusting to an online learning community. However, I trust and believe within myself that I can accomplish any and everything I put my mind to. I live a strong Christian faith and I know that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Throughout this experience, not only am I here to learn and achieve my goals, but I am also here to support the growth of my fellow online community members (ICS-Part1). I love to help others and my faith and lack of myopic views allows me to do this without condemnation. As I look to Walden University for support through my educational and professional journey, I will gradually acquire the ability to make parallel my professional goals and aspirations with the Vision and Mission of Walden University (http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/EDUC/6005/01/mm/ICS-Part1/ICS-Part1.html).