Thank you and Farewell!

Participating in the Early Childhood Studies Masters’ Program during the last two years was an amazing experience. Not only was I able to increase my knowledge about the field, I had many opportunities to self-reflect which has been a learning experience all on its’ own. Along the way I ‘met’ some incredible people each who are making a difference in this world in their own way and whose support I could not have done without.

Looking back, there are several deep felt learnings that I feel I am walking away with as a result of this program. One of the main messages I feel I am walking with is that each of us early childhood professionals CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We must not think that our contributions are too small to matter because they are not. We have to be the voice for those who don’t have a voice to make a difference. We have to speak up for the youngest and the most vulnerable in our world, our children.

The second message I am walking away with is that each of us are not alone in what we do. There are many amazing individuals who share the same passion as us for making a difference and we can find strength and support in each other. The idea of a community of practice that can come together to make a difference truly resonated with me. Knowing that I can reach out to others for support gives me more confidence to step into the path of advocacy. This also made me think about the importance of relationships in the work we do. Strong relationships with children, families and colleagues serve as a strong foundation for the work we do.

Finally, I learned that being an early childhood professional is being open to a continuous process of learning. Taking the time to reflect on yourself as individual; your passion, your attitudes, biases are all important. Just because our Masters’ program has ended, our learning shouldn’t end here. We should be continuously aware of changes occurring in the field, new research and always be open to new ways of thinking.

When I enrolled in the program, I was uncertain about what career path I should follow. Participation in this program has made it a little clearer. My short term goals are to further develop my leadership to prepare myself for the long term goal of being a child and family advocate.

As I write this final blog post, I have very mixed feelings. While I am very excited to have more time to spend with my family and plan outings and activities without having to worry about deadlines, I will also miss checking in with my colleagues and professors several times a week on the discussion board and through our blogs. I have been fortunate to have interacted with many wonderful people throughout this program. I am truly grateful for the support of all my colleagues and each of my professors. A special thank you to Dr. Darragh for all the support and advice she provided me in developing my capstone.

As we all continue our professional journeys, I hope we all stay true to our passions and follow our hearts to bring about the change we all desire to see. I hope our paths  Thank you all and best of luck!

Keshika Dias  

Keshika.dias@gmail.com