Being a student is difficult no matter if it is in your home country or in a totally foreign nation, how old you are or how smart you are. Making things fun and interesting and having a support mechanism will get you through. It could be the dream of the end result of education, the friends you have made at the
school, or as simple as the games you enjoy at school.
In my scenario, I was already an experienced teacher in my country Sri Lanka and I wanted to learn about a niche area which is early childhood education. I aimed to branch out from my career to this particular field.
For this, I chose Canada as a country for multiple reasons. One of the major reasons is the fact that Canada follows play-based learning strategies. According to my research, it is the most effective method of developing a child’s ability to build and establishing almost all of the skills that are vital for the rest of life.
Graduating as an early childhood education student in Canada is a milestone which I consider myself to be the end of a transformative journey and a beginning of a much challenging journey and filled with both pains and gains. As I have completed my studies very recently and reflecting on my journey I had and the obstacles needed to face alone as well as a family, below are my experiences and life lessons I want to share with the rest of the world.
Realizations
Canada is a country that I or my family have never visited in our lives and starting our lives from zero is itself a challenge let alone witching my professional life back to a student life.
The main obstacle I had to face and resolve was securing a childcare spot at an early childhood
education centre which would accept my son so that I can attend my education program and my spouse to secure and report to work on a daily basis.
My city and educational institute of choice was the city of London which is located in the province of
Ontario. Ironically, even though I am an early childhood education student it was nearly
impossible for my family to secure a spot for months as there is an ongoing childcare spot crisis
within the province of Ontario.
This was a pain that me and my spouse had to focus on a full time basis to submit applications, initiate discussions, and contact city officials to get a solution for this problem, while also making sure that I continue my studies according to the plan as well as my spouse working as a fulltime employee which is crucial to meet our family financial needs.
When focusing on the educational program, for me the idea of starting to study in a
college which follows a globally-recognized educational strategies and facilities, was thrilling,
exciting as well as horrifying. I imagined colorful classrooms, joyful interactions with peers and
lecture panels, and satisfying young learners as I had a placement component combined to my
program.
However, the reality of this process was more complex than I imagined. The educational strategies, methodologies, and coursework was demanding and not only requires my concentration, but also deep understanding of concepts that address child development, psychology according to different age categories, and learning practices.
The pain I had during my student journey is on the day I walked in to a childcare service as an educator student during my first day of practicum. The room is full of energetic toddlers and they have never met me in their lives.
I quickly realized that the theoretical knowledge I have gained so far is just the tip of the iceberg. Managing the children and implementing learning experiences that addresses each and every child’s unique needs that can be practiced within a safe and stimulating environment is an art and science that I had yet to master.
All my peers at the college as well as all the educators that I had interacted and not to
forget about the colleagues I interacted with during my placement time period as well as me
contributing as a supply educator when I had free time to practice my knowledge at childcare
services, supported me to overcome all these mentioned and overlooked pains. I converted those to
gains that are lifelong lessons that I plan to use in the future in my new career in the country which I chose to start my life back from zero.
The gains far outweigh the pains and I am excited to continue learning, growing, and making a difference in the lives of young children in Canada. This is just the beginning of my story as an early childhood educator, and I look forward for the many chapters ahead.
Now that I’ve completed a big highlight in my professional career, my family and I can catch up again on our outdoor adventures (among the many things I love about Canada)!
If you have plans of seeking a better personal and professional life, perhaps my insights could help you. I’ve written my point of view on the key to success in migrating to Canada. You can read it here.
Have you ever considered studying abroad to further your expertise or seek an interest in another field? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below!
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