Farewell

"Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind." 

Theodore Roosevelt

To think we have made it would be underselling our stories. Over the course of our time together at Walden, each professional I have come across has shared their stories. These stories included ideas, they included inspirations, but they also included anecdotes of the tangible work we have put into the field. My wish, for my colleagues, is that the words you have shared, along with the ideas you have helped to cultivate, can be shared across the world through bold actions. I hope that each of my colleagues and professors can continue to share their passions and inspire efforts in professionals, families, and children.

As I am completing my final few days in my my M.S. in Early Childhood Studies: Public Policy & Advocacy at Walden University, I can think of three major lessons I have learned throughout my experience. First, I have learned that the most valuable tool a professional has is their community. Be it a working community, a community of practice, or the community in which one resides. Looking around oneself to the people around you, the experiences shared, and the passions being driven can provide any individual with enough fuel and fire to overcome any challenges. A second lesson that I have learned from my experiences is that communication is a skill that is so deeply embedded in our everyday lives, but requires constant consideration. Communication can serve as a bridge or a wall, but I am the factor that determines how communication serves me. Third, I have recognized that the ECE world is just as big, if not bigger, than I have ever imagined. I can remember back to when I was graduating from undergrad and I had felt like there were so many possibilities for me. Though, in reality, I did not nearly understand how many avenues I could follow. Having completing my masters, I can now see that my efforts can be shared, my passions can be spread across families and children around the world in a myriad of ways. 

Looking towards the future, one goal that I have set for myself as I leave the academic world of Walden University is to take a leap of faith and leave my position as a classroom teacher. As much as I feel passion for directly impacting positive development in the lives of children, I want so badly to gain a new experience working with children through working directly with their families. I plan to spend time this upcoming spring sending out applications to a variety of non-profit organizations. Although I cannot specific declare the type of organizations that I will apply to, I do know that my goal is to gain experience in a new world, one of which I will find in the nonprofit sector. 

My Eye on International Communities of Practice

The organization Save the Children is one that appeals to me greatly for a variety of reasons. When I was first introduced to this international organization early in my studies with Walden University, I recognized that Save the Children is a group that focuses on the well-being of children across the globe. Although countless other organizations focus on the well-being of children, Save the Children is one that focuses on the basic human rights of children. Rather than focusing solely on education, or health, this organization is one that looks at the basic needs of children, and works to create greater avenues of access to safety and positive learning and developmental environments. 

The International Play Association is another international organization that I admire greatly. With a push for increased emphasis on academics in early childhood, the value of play experiences has begun to diminish. Where developmentalists and play specialists can see the impact that play can have on the health, well-being, and development of young children and their families, the rest of the world may not. The International Play Association has representation in almost 50 countries. All board members and general members are involved in the IPA through volunteerism only. Their work focuses on educating the public, and supporting the growth of, active play experiences for young children. 

The United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an international organization that stood out to me because of it's strong position on gender equality. With our nation moving in such a progressive direction, it is important that the adults who work with children understand the science behind gender identification, the commercial influence on gender, and the presence of gender inequality around the world. UNESCO works in several countries to meet several objectives: "Attaining quality education for all and lifelong learning; Mobilizing science knowledge and policy for sustainable development; Addressing emerging social and ethical challenges; Fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace; Building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication," (UNESCO, 2011).

Potential Job Opportunities

Parent Educator with Child & Family Services 
https://child-familyservices.org/parent-educator-bachelors-level/

In order to obtain this job, I have a great head start in my qualifying education: the job requires the parent educator to have a bachelor's degree in a field related to education, and is preferred that a master's degree be obtained as well. Aside from education, this job would require me to be able to utilize productive, effective communication with families participating in the program. Along with strong communication skills to be utilized with families, I would be required to work collaboratively and reflectively on a team of fellow professionals. As this position is involved with families from multiple communities, I would need to be able to utilize culturally responsive interactions when developing and implementing sensitive support systems for families. I would also be required to work within organizational record keeping to maintain clear documentation and communication of each family's involvements within the program. 

Resources

Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved fromhttp://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

International Play Association. (2016). Retrieved from http://ipaworld.org/

United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2011). Retrieved fromhttp://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/