Professional Hopes and Goals

When I think about working with children and families who come from diverse background, I hope I will always be able to respect each party’s diversity. Realizing how possible I will unconsciously and with no intention at all do the microaggressions towards others, I really have to be aware of it. Sue (2011) states that we are not immune from inheriting the racial bias of our forebears. It means each human inherits his or her own cultures that may affect our way to see others, and this may lead us to have a feeling of prejudice to others different from us. The very obvious diversity in my community is the poverty that may lead me or others to act classism. Learning through this course reminds me of the microaggressions, and to think of ways or solutions should I see an act of microaggression towards the children and their families. I may also think of programs or activities which will avoid microaggressions.

Poverty is the biggest issue in my country. Learning about diversity, equity and social justice, I realize how important it is to understand children and their families' diversities and fight for their just world. They are poor, but their children deserve better education. People here do not see early childhood programs that important, but more as a place to make their children busy, and this is only done by the wealthy families who can afford EC programs, while middle class families prefer to save the budget for elementary school, and the poor families cannot even think about it. The government has been trying to support the growth of playgroups and kindergartens in small cities and towns, but it is still a long way to go. Since I cannot change the nation, I have a goal to change my community’s mindset about the importance of sending their children to playgroups and kindergartens so the children will have a better future.

We have come to the end of this course about diversity, equity and social justice. I have indeed learned a lot from all colleagues. Through our blogs and discussions, we share our childhood stories and experiences which have been a support to the theories we are learning. Although microaggressions are not serious issues in my country, your thoughts have given me new insights about treating others fairly. Thank you, and may your passion in early childhood field remains forever, and never give up!!

Laureate Media (2011). “Microaggressions in Everyday Life”. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_3397499_1%26url%3D