The Child Development graduate program at Texas Woman’s University is a beautiful and well-rounded program that has exposed me to a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience, which will serve as the foundation for my continued work with children and families. Being a student in this program has been so inspiring and rewarding, allowing me to learn so much not only about children, but myself as well. 

 

Through this program, I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in the work of renowned theorists, enabling me to curate my own personal philosophy. I found this experience to be invaluable– as the ideas and insights that make up my philosophy speak not only to my personal experiences, but to the specific challenges and contexts of our contemporary world. As always, it takes a village to raise a child. In our increasingly globalized world, nurturing a child’s growth requires socialization into supportive environments that promote holistic development and diversity appreciation. Drawing inspiration from theorists who emphasize on development within a socio-cultural-historical framework will continue to guide my approach to working with children from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Furthermore, refining the knowledge I have gained throughout my graduate experience and transforming it into my own, unique philosophy has been an extremely empowering experience; and will play a substantial role in my future work with children and families. 

 

This program has also exposed me to a breadth of courses that have allowed me to deepen my understanding of many aspects of childcare and education. I have learned so much about fostering positive development in children and adolescents, as well as how to serve as an effective guide to children as they grow and learn. Some of my favorite insights were drawn from topics relating to play, child guidance, brain-based learning, and environmental design— inspired by the methodologies of Maria Montessori, Friedrich Froebel, and the Reggio Emilia approach. Employing minimalistic, naturalistic childcare design, with the teacher as the mediator, will guide my future classroom and care center design. 

 

Other graduate courses provided me with a chance to gain hands-on field experience conducting observations, assessments, and collaborating with others in my field. Through these experiences, I had the opportunity to evaluate both developmental outcomes and learning environments, as well as provide practical intervention strategies to support the growing child and their family. These immersive experiences not only strengthened my abilities as a professional in my field, but allowed me to gain expertise from fellow early childhood practitioners. 

 

The knowledge, experience, and tools I have gained during my graduate studies have not only had a profound impact on my knowledge-base, but have sparked inspiration across various aspects of my personal and professional development. While my graduate experience may be coming to an end, my pursuit of knowledge will persist. I recognize that it is not only about the quantity of knowledge I have acquired through this graduate program, but that my passion to learn more and stay updated within my field never waivers. Therefore, the culmination of my graduate experience at Texas Woman's University left me feeling not only inspired, but ready to continue learning and growing in my field.

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