Hope and Appreciation

This is the final blog of my graduate program, and as such, it is a chance to think about what my hope is going forward. I have learned more about myself as well as the profession than I thought possible, and am incredibly grateful for the interactions with my colleagues along the way. Each person that challenged my thinking, inspired me to look into an area of learning I had not considered, and supported me with positive feedback has helped shape be into a better educator. You each have my gratitude.

My hope for my future as an early childhood professional is simple- to be the difference a a child's life. I want the children I work with to understand that even if I did not come from the same background, or do not speak the same language at home, or have not had the same trauma they face, that I care more about their success in life than their grades. I want them to understand that I am here to support them, and will work until I find their unique niche that makes learning enjoyable for each student. They need to know they are noticed, cared for, safe, and important. Further, in a time with so much adversarial interactions, I want their families to understand I am here committed to seeing every student succeed both academically, but also that they feel empowered and passionate about their own learning so that they want to know more after they leave my classroom.

My father grew up in poverty, in a part of town where you were not expected to make much of yourself, and expectations were low for your learning. His mother struggled to provide food and shelter him from an abusive father. He had no ambitions until he met his Latin teacher. She made him feel valued, intelligent, and capable. It was because of her passion for seeing him succeed that my father went on to be an adoption lawyer and a preacher, making a difference in the lives of so many. If it had not been for her seeing a poor kid from the wrong side of town and looking past that to his potential, I would not have had the opportunities in my life. Teaching without bias matters, and it changes lives for generations. My hope is to be like that teacher, a change maker.