Early Childhood Education

Brenda Flett

is now a believer.

Education:

Second year, Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program

Kudos:

Recipient, Irving K. Barber Scholarship - Aboriginal Student Award, 2009

My professional goal:

I would like to continue in the field of ECE until I get my full license and hope that I will eventually have the opportunity to work in an Aboriginal Head Start program.

The challenges

I've always wanted to go to college and in 1998 or 1999 applied to come to Douglas in the ECE Program. However, I got a job with Canadian Airlines and decided to put off going back to school. Putting off school wasn't really because I had the job with Canadian and it had to do with the fact that I was afraid of failing and Canadian Airlines was my excuse.

Facing my fears

Even coming into the course in 2008, I was trying to make excuses for myself as to why I couldn't start the program and when I really asked myself what this was about, I realized I was doubting myself and the fears were surfacing again. I told myself that I have to try and if I don't I will always be running and hiding and this would be the true failure. 

It was worth it

I went and completed my first year with outstanding marks and was even voted student representative, so, those fears of failure were starting to disappear. I still have moments when I doubt myself, but these are all a part of life and we all have doubts at some time or another.

The rewards

I had no idea of the amount of work involved when I entered the program. I thought that I would have been ahead of the game being a parent already; however, I've been continuously proven wrong. This is a challenging program and just when you think you've got it all figured out, it throws you another curve ball. However, there is an amazing feeling of accomplishment when you've completed an assignment, especially when you have five courses to complete assignments for.

My role model

My father worked hard every day of his life to ensure that his children had all the necessities in life with all the extras. He would work long hours and weekends to make sure his family was taken care of.  For someone who managed to make it to grade 2, I think this is a pretty remarkable accomplishment. Whenever I had a challenge in my life I would phone home and he would say, "It's okay my girl, whatever has happened happened and there's nothing you can do now but move forward and learn from it."

The reason behind the dream job

My daughter attended an Aboriginal Head Start when she was 3 years old and again when she was 4. I remember watching the educators interact with the children and it was with great respect and acknowledgement for each of the children and families involved. They made sure all the children felt special and had something to contribute to the learning experience. No judgments were made on the child's learning abilities.    

Lessons outside the classroom

I find that children live for the moment and life doesn't have to be complex with all the material things the world has to offer. Children can take a stick, leaf, rock, box, bead or virtually anything that crosses their path and transform it into a living, breathing companion that they will cherish and care for as long as they have it in their possession. 

Links:

Information sessions
Early Childhood Education
Irving K Barber Scholarship - Aboriginal Student Award
Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC
More Feature stories

Published December 3, 2009