Words of Inspiration and Motivation

William J Clinton

“The world we live in is too unequal.”

What they [poorer countries] need are systems, things you take for granted. We would be shocked if the microphone failed or the lights went out today, but I spend a lot of my life in places where people take none of that for granted. They need systems, and a lot of you have worked in places where you see young people just as intelligent as you are, just as hard working as you are, they simply don’t have like chances because they don’t have the systems to guarantee good consequences for hard work and good behavior.

The problem with all countries that have great systems is that they get long in the tooth. That they become so successful that those who run them are more interested in holding onto their positions than advancing the purposes for which they were established. More interested in maintaining the gains of the present than achieving even greater ones for our children in the future.

Janet Gonzalez - Mena

Building positive identities and a respect for differences means weaving diversity into the fabric of children's everyday lives. Working with families is an important first step in helping children accept, understand, and value their rich and varied world.

Try to talk to parents as often as possible. Also, remember that body language can reveal whether you are anxious or in a hurry. If you are calm and relaxed, a family will feel that they can be open with you.

Early Childhood Professional

Louise Derman – Sparks

Professor Emeritus

Pacific Oak College, CA

“ I always wanted to be a teacher, because I had a built in passion to make a difference in the world and to fix  the injustices in the world”

Personal Childhood Web

Maw Maw (Great- Grand Mother) - Makes me smile just saying her name.  My parents divorced when I was five and while my mother got herself together I lived with my Maw Maw.  She was truly an amazing woman to take in a five year old at the age of 70.  She always expressed the value of family and why we as a family did the things we did.  She would tell me stories of how hard things were when she was growing up; and till this day I can see the sweet smile she had on her face when she would look down at me and say, “I’m so proud that you’re going to go to college”.  I don’t know how she knew I would, but something in my heart tells me she was planting a seed of how important education is.  From the looks of it that seed is continuing to work some 26 years later as I continue my education.  I got to spend 3 beautiful years with my Maw Maw listening to her stories while I brushed her hair and as she would say giving her the best hugs and kisses in the world; she died when I was eight.  I know that as I continue my journey during my times of weakness it is her stepping in to keep me going. :O)

Mom (Gin Gin) - Although my mom had to leave me with my Maw Maw for awhile she never allowed me to feel left behind or unwanted.  Because she was young when she had me I think she needed that period of time to find herself and in turn it made her a better mother.  Over the years and even today me and my mom are more like best friends instead of mother and daughter.  She is truly an encourager and helps me to believe I can do anything I put my mind to.  No matter what the event I can count on my mom to be in my corner.

                                                                    

Stepfather (Pops) - The same year my great grand mother died, my mom remarried.  If it were at all possible to choose a father my stepfather would be my choice.  With my own dad not being in my life and only women impacting my life thus far, I didn’t know how I felt about having a stepfather.  I must say he came into my life and it’s like he was never not there.  He never treated me like I was a step child but loved me as if I were his very own.  He attended father daughter dances, softball games, basketball games and was always my biggest fan.  My dad is a truck driver, and last year at his company Christmas dinner his boss came up to me and said,” your dad is so proud of you, all he ever talks about is what his baby cakes is working on now.”  (Daddy’s little girl) :O)

Mrs. Sanford- My eight grade Literature teacher, I truly have to say the love that I have for education comes from Mrs. Sanford.  She was a genuine teacher; you can feel that she truly enjoys what she does.  Mrs. Sanford not only cared about our education but our well being.  During my eight grade year I had a freak accident and almost lost my right foot; I was in the hospital for about three weeks and had seven surgeries to save my foot; Mrs. Sanford visited me and made sure that I had my assignments so that I didn’t fall behind, and even found time to quiz me.  Mrs. Sanford is still teaching today and I visit her from time to time; it’s a running joke in her class that even being in the hospital and almost losing a foot is not an excuse to miss homework.

A few of my favorite quotes

“Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.” Sitting Bull

“A child miseducated is a child lost.” John F. Kennedy

“A person is a person, no matter how small” Dr. Seuss

“Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them” Lady Bird Johnson, former US first lady

Me October 2011

“The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein

I simply love this book.  Although The Giving Tree is a very easy read, it has a very strong message inside.  The first class that I volunteered in was a kindergarten class and I used The Giving Tree as my book of choice.  I was so very nervous; I made it to the class early so that I could put up my paper tree, that I worked so hard on the night before, along with my basket of apples for the students.  When the students walked into the classroom from lunch we all sat on the floor and as I read to them the little smiles on their faces melted my heart.  After passing out the apples I gathered my things to leave when a little boy patted me on my leg and handed me a star with a smile on his face.  I later found out from the teacher that Kevin had received the star earlier that day for good behavior.  That was eight years ago and that story still tugs at my heart and ensures me that making an impact in our kid’s lives is truly what God has for me.

Success

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. Booker T. Washington