My professional hopes and goals

When I think of working with children and families from diverse backgrounds, my hope is that I will be able to make each and every family and child I work with feel valued, respected and recognized for their uniqueness. I realize that to be able to do so effectively requires that I evaluate my own personal attitudes and views of others and change my attitudes where needed and I hope that by engaging in an ongoing process of self-reflection and learning I will be able to ensure that I am accepting and respectful of all. 

My goal for the field of early childhood with regards to issues of diversity, equity and social justice is to bring more awareness of these issues to the field as a whole. This includes educating and equipping teachers on how to create inclusive classrooms, effectively discuss and address diversity related issues among children and become advocates for children and families, and making other early childhood stakeholders aware of the importance of addressing issues of equity and social justice and taking measures to address those issues. I believe that by drawing more attention to these issues will be a first step in addressing them effectively to ensure equity for all children and families. 

            The past eight weeks have been an incredible learning experience for me that has left me with much to think about. I am very grateful to all my colleagues in this course for their willingness to collaborate, engage in lively discussion and offer constructive feedback and support. I have learned much from the personal experiences you all shared. Thank you for your continued support and I wish you all the best as you continue your educational journey and as you continue to work with children and families. Thank You!