|
|
|
|
I was born in 1959. God must have blessed me with a special gift because I don't know where else I would have gotten my ideas from at so young an age. I was 5 yrs old in 1964 and thats how far back my memories begin. I had a mind of my own and never cared what others thought. I knew I was special, I may not of known why I was, or what made me special, I just knew that I felt special and that noone could take that away from me. I also had an instinct about things, an inner voice that led me away or sometimes towards people or situations. This voice has actually saved my life, and I have always listened to it.
As a child I had a bond with children and as I grew so did my bond with children grow. I remember playing in the playground at the apts. where we lived when I was 5 yrs old. I met another little girl who was 1 or 2 years older than I, we went to her apt. one day and thats when I met her sister Diane, she was about the same age as I was and we instantly bonded and became good friends.
One day Diane and I were at the playground and she was swinging on the bars and all of a sudden I heard some little boy laughing and pointing at her and she was crying and I saw that she had a wig in her hand and it must've fallen off, I never knew she wore one, but she had it in her hand and was running accross the street to her apt.. I just started running towards the boy and yelling at him for making fun of Diane. He ran to his bike and was riding home, he lived in this house down a dirt road next to our apts. I took off after him and even when he went into his house I went to his door and began knocking on the door. I was crying when his mom opened the door and I told her what her son had done to my friend when her wig fell off and I was very adament that he be punished for this. I then left and went to Diane's home, that is when her mom told me that Diane had lukemia and told me why she wore a wig. I didn't know what it all meant all I knew was that she was my friend and had gotten her feelings hurt and I wasn't gonna stand by and do nothin. As I grew I was and am an advocate for children, a voice for those who couldn't speak up for themselves. So it's not surprizing that I was instantly drawn to Head Start.
When I was about 12 yrs old, 1971, I met the people who had just moved in accross the street from our house. A lady and her 2 children, a girl of 5 yrs and a boy of 3 yrs. I loved kids and became very close with the family. There were always Harley Davidsons pulling in over there with long hair guys riding them. My father hated them, I loved them! After I had become really close with them I got my mom to meet the lady and soon after I got my dad to meet her and they ended up really liking them too! The lady's name was Kathy.
One day Kathy made a deal with me she said, "Deb, I'll tell you what, I will buy you a ten speed bike if you will take Eric (her son) to preschool in the mornings before you go to school?" It wasn't far out of my way and so naturally I said yes! Well the preschool was a Head Start in the east foothills of San Jose, Calif. I thought it was the most awesome place. From that moment I told myself, if I ever have a kid I am going to find a Head Start wherever I was at and put my kid into that program.
When I was 31 yrs old I had my first child. I was living in Arizona and when he turned 3 I went to the local Head Start here in rural Arizona. I enrolled my son at the Springerville Head Start. From that moment on my life changed. I began to learn that this program was not only for my son but for myself as well. I was married and was lucky enough to not have to work so I had the opportunity to volunteer down at the Head Start alot. I was voted on the NACDAB board and that was the most awesome experiance. I learned alot about the program alot about myself and alot about myself as a parent. At the end of his first year at the Parent award nite, I received the parent of the year award!
The staff at Springerville Head Start were the best team of staff I have ever seen. Because of them I received my GED and became a very involved parent with my son's education, and continued educating myself more and more in everything about early education, I became involved in our community also. At 35 I had my second and last child. I also became a single parent and no longer could voluteer because I needed to work. I was hired as a lunch aide at Head Start, so I was lucky enough to still be able to watch my son grow.
That was 8/9 years ago, today I am still working for Springerville Head Start, I take modules working towards my CDA. I am still a lunch aide, although I am not really anyones aide because I am the only one working in the kitchen! But I love my job and my position. I get to go into the classroom and do nutritional activities with the children all the time. Our center has alot of team work and I think that all of us are able to step into the door and wear anyones hat and be able to do their job if needed.
Up until the time I had my first son at 31yrs old, my life was crazy and the road had taken me many places.
|