Time Well Spent

          Wow... I cannot believe that this is our last assignment in our Master's program.  After I finish this assignment, I will have completed my journey at Walden as a grad student! I have learned and grown so much since my beginning at Walden.  One important thing that I learned during this program was what making a positive social change was about.  Before I began my degree, I had never heard about positive social change, nor did I know what it meant.  However, I know what it means now.  Positive social change is what we as early childhood professionals should aim for.  How can we change the world for the better, how can we make a change that will impact the world so that it is different than before?  Another important thing that I learned about was advocacy.  Young children cannot speak for themselves, and many times parents do not know how to effectively speak for their children either.  It is our job to step in and serve as an advocate on their behalf.  I am to fight families and their children so that the children receive the best care and  beginning to life as possible.  Another noteworthy thing that I learned about was the importance of a positive, continuous partnership between school and family.  These partnerships are crucial to the child's learning and success in school.  When the teacher and parents work together, the child has better chances to succeed and go on to make a positive social change on the world around him.
          A long term goal that I have is to be able to see the parent resource center that I aim to open inside my future childcare center, be a success.  I want it to help families and is a helpmate that eases some of the burden so that they can focus on their children.  I want to say a huge and special THANK YOU to my instructor, Dr. Darragh, and all of my colleagues!  You have been key to my success in this program and have helped me become the early childhood professional that I am now!!!  You all have been patient with me and has guided me through the program.  You have evaluated me and pushed me to be the best that I can be and for that I am so thankful!  I cannot say enough that I deeply appreciate everything that you, (Dr. Darragh and my colleagues) have done to help me reach my goal of receiving a Master's degree.  I wish you all well in your future endeavors, and perhaps one day our paths will cross again.  I am here for all of you and my contact information is: 

   Rachel Walters--rachellwalters19@gmail.com