Farewell!

Dear Colleagues and Dr. Teri,

It is with such mixed emotions that I write my farewell message to you.  I am very excited about the opportunities that may come my way, due to meeting the huge goal of obtaining my master’s degree, but I am also a little anxious about leaving the comfort of such a supportive and dedicated group of early childhood professionals.  I have grown both personally and professionally as a result of my participation in this group and I am looking forward to the next phase of my life.

Personally, I have learned that many of my biases are the result my early childhood experiences.  Recognizing this fact has lead me to the realization that I must always be aware of these biases and constantly guard against letting them influence my interactions with others; especially the children and families that we serve.  Professionally, I have learned that the early childhood world is a huge arena.  Coming from such a small, rural town, I have not had many opportunities to experience the world other than outside my own backdoor.  Working with you through this program has opened my eyes to all of the resources, ideas, and relationships that are available if I only look a little harder to find them.  I believe that one of the most important things I have learned from this program is to always be open to new ideas and the experiences of other people.  Yes, I learned many new things from our assignments and applications, but most of the knowledge I gained was through my interactions with my colleagues and for that I am eternally grateful! 

I am a very goal-oriented person and I constantly write and revise goals for myself.  Obtaining my master’s degree is the biggest academic goal accomplished so far, but I am not about to set the torch down now!  My next goal is to become an instructor within the community college system in NC.  Although I have had the opportunity to teach a couple of classes over the last 2 semesters, I would like to obtain a regular position within this system and learn how to be an effective and compassionate instructor.  Another long term goal that I have is to open my own consulting business in the early childhood field.  This is much needed in my area and I would like to share my experiences with others to help them reach their goals and dreams.

Enough about me!  For all of you, I wish much joy and success in your future endeavors.  Success is sometimes easily obtained, but finding joy in our success is not always easy.  I hope that you remain dedicated to the early childhood profession and that you are recognized for your contributions and passion!  I have included some of my favorite quotes below and they summarize how I feel about early childhood and how I hope that I am remembered.  I have also included my contact information and I hope that you will stay in touch.

With much fondness,

Monette

moloves31@yahoo.com