Why Become an Childhood Advocate

Children are innocent and deserve to have adults that watch out for their best interests and safety.  Not every child in our society have that and that is where childhood advocates come in.  I want to be the individual that a child can count on to care about them as an individual.  Advocates look at the situation the child is currently in and makes sure that the child is completely safe and experiencing the nurturing environment a child deserves.  Along with the child's well being and advocate can help educate the family making them aware of programs and parenting methods that could help their family as a whole and encourage love and interaction.  The main reason I have chosen this career field is because I have a heart for children and it is important to me to enjoy my career feeling like I am making a difference.

I believe it is important for early childhood educators to be skilled and educated so that they are fully aware of ways they can be helping children in order to provide the best support possible.  It is also important to have continuous education because as policies change it should be a priority for educators and advocates to be aware rather than in the dark.  The children and families count on us to help them and know how and in what ways are best for their family most importantly current ways and policies that need to be considered.

My goals at this point in my education are:
1. Learn the policies necessary to help protect children 
2. Learn as much as I can from my classes so that when I am in the field I can provide the best care for the children and their families.
3.. Find ways to do what I love that makes it possible to help my husband take care of our family.

Thank You

Another class has come to a close and we are that much closer to graduation. The information I have learned is going to help me make a difference in the future.  My classmates have been there to increase the amount I have learned and given me an opportunity to get to know a few building relationships that will last past graduation.  Whether is be brainstorming, trying to understand a concept, relieving stress, or just listening my classmates have been their for me.  I have had individuals tell me that I am losing out on the experience going to a physical land campus I would have to disagree.  I am gaining the knowledge and building the relationships what more could I ask for??  Thank you for all that were part of this class.

Team Development

When a group is getting along and working well together it makes leaving the group very difficult.  There are some many pieces to a team dynamic that is needed to accomplish success.  There have been teams that I have work with that the communication is open and clear making it so that everyone feels comfortable stating their needs and ideas knowing that the rest of the team will not judge.  This allowed for the team to know what others were doing and progress they have made in regarded to deadlines.   When teams are successful it is difficult to say good bye.  Teams needs a time where they can celebrate their success and evaluate what was done adjourning stage is a time to celebrate success and evaluate what happened.  After finishing the work allowing a time for the team to relax and celebrate in a casual setting can be a good ending that rewards the team for a job well done.

Conflict Resolution

Considering how much a dislike conflict and try to avoid it if at all possible the strategies that I can utilize when the need arises  would include the win win approach and empathy.  This approach consists of joint problem-solving which will allow each person an opportunity to speak about what they believe will work then taking those ideas and making it into one approach specifically for this child. Empathy is about openness between people and helping people feel that they feelings or thoughts are being understood. Encouraging those involve to have an open mind to change and be willing to work together to find a solution would be important. 

The 3 R’s communication model includes: respectful, reciprocal, and responsive communication.  These can provide a positive impact to communication simply by encouraging educators to respectful to the children and their families they are privileged to work with.  It can help build relationships that are more give and take rather than one sided while encouraging a level of respect between the two.  When children see this approached exampled by those teaching them they will acquire the skills so that they treat others that way more naturally than they would otherwise.  

Self Perception

I see myself as a positive communicator in small groups or one on one.  When faced with larger groups I become shy and unsure about myself and when I am done I critique myself being overly critical of my performance.  Those that evaluated me thought on the same lines.  They observe that when I am face to face with a patient is it evident that I am willing to help them in anyway I can.  One coworker mentioned that I have compassion for others and as long as the patient is willing to help themselves I bend over backwards.  They have also seen that  when I am faced with patients trying to pull a fast with a sob story I may have a hard time saying no I know my job and realize that unless the patient is willing to help me help them then I cannot help them. Improving on larger group will require me to work on my own feelings about myself.  Believing in myself and thinking positively about the knowledge I already possess I truly believe that I will one day have the confidence to speak to large groups and finish feeling good about myself.

Changes in Communication

Following the past few weeks and the information I have learned, I don't think I have changed my approach to communication to much.  I have become more aware to those I communicate with.  I pay attention a person personality and try to communicate in a way that the individual can understand without being condescending or demeaning.  I treat others the way I would to be treated.  Many people have a difficult time understand of their bills so it is my job to explain the basics in a logical way that make it easier for our patients to understand.  I leave each day with a feeling like I have accomplished something important and like I have done something to help my patients which can be very rewarding. 

Border Patrol

The show I choice to watch for the first time was Border Patrol although I had never seen it before within in the first few minutes even without sound it was clear what the show was about.  Watching it without sound I found myself paying close attention to the emotions exhibited by the characters.  It is amazing how much can be understood with the emotions alone.

Border Patrol without sound there were military officials that were arresting and identifying people that may be illegal immigrants.  The officials walked through desert areas searching for individuals trying to sneak across the border.  When they caught the group of four men they took them in for questioning before they fingerprinted and photographed them.  Them men sat in a cell and look very anxious and upset because they were fidgeting and their facial expressions showed their nerves.  The officers were nice and did not seem to mistreat the men in anyway.

When I turned the sound on it was evident that my assumptions were basically correct.  The officials were given a lead that there was a group of individuals trying to sneak across the border.  They then went searching the area the lead led them to believe the individuals may be.  After searching they did arrest them and took them in for questioning.  They asked them where they were from, what their family status was, and what their plan had been.  The men told the officials that they were not able to care for their families in Mexico and their hope was to come to the U.S, and find work so that they could send money back to their families.  The officials displayed sympathy for the men but since they were entering the country illegally they needed to follow the law.  They processed the required paper work and extradited the men back to Mexico.