Back and Forth

As a child I loved to swing. The force and the momentum that would keep me going back and forth, or higher and higher. As I reflect on this picture, two things come to mind. 1. the decision I made 5 years ago to come out of the classroom, and 2. following my dreams to go higher and higher in the field of Early Childhood Education.

After teaching in the Head Start classroom for 7 years, I went back and forth with whether or not it was time for me to come out of the classroom. I loved teaching. I loved setting up my classroom. I loved the connections I made with all the children over the course of those 7 years of teaching. Teachers face many challenges in the classroom, and my classroom was no exception. The challenges that I faced didn't stem from the classroom itself, but from the policies and procedures in which I had to follow. There were things in place that I didn't feel were allowing me to make the impact on the children as my heart desired and I knew in order for things to change, I would need to advocate for that change. Advocating for that change meant, changing positions and coming out of the classroom.

Some would say I stayed on the swing for a while, going back and forth before making my decision of whether or not I wanted to stay in the classroom or pursue an opportunity that would allow me to advocate for change in the classroom and in our procedures. In 2014, the swing came to stop and I put both feet on the ground, stood up, and made the decision to leave the classroom. I became a Education Specialist for the Head Start Program.

Being a Education Specialist brought on a lot of responsibilities, joys and challenges. However, I had to keep in mind my purpose of pursing this position. That purpose was to advocate for change in our procedures. If you have ever tried making changes to policies and procedures that have been in place for 10+ years; this was no easy task. I had to keep telling myself, "I think I can, I think I can." such as the little engine in one of my favorite storybooks, The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.

Feel free to come swing with me and as we go back and forth; I will share my journey with you!

#lifeislikeaswing #backandforth #decisions