In class this week, we discussed a few early childhood development theories and the impact of a web of supporters on a child's development. All of the readings and multimedia presentations I have completed this week have helped me to recall my childhood memories and the people who made up my personal childhood web and support system. After much debate and thinking, I believe that five of the most important and influential people in my personal childhood web are: my mother, my father, my Aunt Deb, my first grade teacher, and my best friend, Jessy.
First and foremost, I must begin with my parents, Annie (mom) and Tom (dad). They are the first two people in my childhood web who had the most influence on my life. I have always had a very close relationship with my mom. For as long as I can remember, she was always a caregiver, helper, and nurturer. She calmed my fears, hushed my tears, encouraged my excitement, and embarked on adventures with me. When needed, she disciplined and enforced the rules to make me understand and get the life skills needed to become independent and respectful, too. She was always my number one supporter and was there to listen when I was upset and encourage me and give me the confidence I needed to take a leap of faith. Through the years, we didn't always see eye to eye and get along perfectly but looking back I am grateful for the way she raised me. At the time I thought it may have been strict or unfair but she has helped me to appreciate life, be open and tolerant of others, be respectful and kind, and so much more. To this day my mom is my number one fan and a best friend. Even though I don't live at home anymore, we still chat almost daily through phone calls or text messages and see each other often. She continues to be the shoulder to cry on, ear to listen, and fan to cheer me on through every up and down I encounter in my life. I would be honored to be half the mother she was to my brother and I. Of course I cannot forget my dad, too. I was their first child and I was Daddy's Little Girl, to some extent. My dad and I have always shared a love of sports and that has been a great connection between us for my entire life. He taught me teamwork, patience, focus, eye-hand coordination, and more. I could go to him with an idea and he would always think it was "cool and exciting" and encourage me to follow through on it. Dad taught me strength and passion. He taught me to never give up on something I wanted or cared about. Throughout my entire life, he has been a supporter of me and encouraged me to follow my gut. When I was going to college, he always tried to give me a boost and remind me I could do it and that I was in the right place. My dad was always my number one coach, coaching me through good and bad my entire life. To this day, he tries to encourage me to follow my dreams and stick to my goals, telling me I can do anything I put my mind to. My parents have given me such a wealth of knowledge in 26 years that I can apply to my life in so many ways.
^^^Posing with Mom and Dad at LVC graduation festivities, May 2009^^^
Another important person from my childhood web would be my Aunt Deb. My Aunt Deb is my mom's oldest sister and someone who I have always considered a second mom. When I was a child, we lived in Philadelphia, across the street from my Aunt Deb. While my parents worked, my aunt would babysit me during the day. She had three children of her own, all older than me, but still took care of me as if I was her own, too. We had a routine each day. Each morning we would play games, dolls, barbies, puzzles, and more. We would break for breakfast and Sesame Street. Around lunch time, we would eat lunch together and do some learning books to practice letters, numbers, colors, and more. During the afternoon, I napped (when I was young enough) or I would play and help do things like fold laundry in the living room while she watched her afternoon soap operas. Sometimes I would help her start preparing things for dinner because I LOVED being a helper. My time with my aunt is a time I treasured. When my parents would come to pick me up, I would cry because I loved spending time there, especially once my cousins got home from school! In all of this time I spent with my aunt, she taught me many things: kindness, patience, academics, respect, imagination, creativity, and much more. She is someone I always felt I could go to if I ever needed anything. She always encouraged me and taught me to believe in myself and try my best. When we moved to New Jersey and no longer lived across the street, I was sad to be far from my aunt, uncle, and cousins; however, we still tried to spend much time together. Through the years, I also became very close with her three children, who always felt like my big brothers and big sister. They looked out for me, protected me, and helped me understand the importance of family, which is something that has stuck with me my entire life.
^^^Posing with Aunt Deb at my 25th Surprise Birthday Party thrown by my wonderful boyfriend!^^^
The next person in my web would be my first grade teacher, Mrs. Benedict. At the time, she was a new, young teacher. She was so creative, full of energy, fun, caring, and supportive. She would take the time to get to know each of her students and help you individually in any area you needed extra help. She invested her time and effort into each of us and made a huge difference in our lives academically and otherwise. Mrs. Benedict was my first teacher in New Jersey. I had moved to NJ over the summer and the only people I knew were my cousins who had lived in the town where we moved. The first day of school was one of the scariest experiences but meeting her instantly made me feel better. She was fun and sweet and made you feel at home. When I entered first grade, I was not confident in starting to read. By mid year, I was a reading machine and couldn't stop reading at home to show off my skills from my wonderful teacher! I learned so much from her in that one school year and she ultimately influenced me to become a teacher when I grew up. I knew I had to take all the tools she had given me and use them to help children and make a difference when I grew up as my way of giving back. The funny thing is, now that I am grown and working as a teacher, I am back in the school district and building where I went to elementary school working in fourth grade with my old first grade teacher and inspiration as my colleague and fellow fourth grade teacher! Ironic but very cool.
^^^Posing with my fellow fourth grade teachers at the 2012 Fourth Grade Picnic!^^^
*
LEFT TO RIGHT: Mrs. Benedict (my 1st grade teacher), Mrs. DiPrinzio, Mrs. Hubbard, & Myself*
The last person I would like to mention in my childhood web is the first person I met on my first day of school in a new school in first grade. That person was my best friend, Jessy Laskowski. Jessy noticed me outside of school, looking like a deer in headlights and approached me before we met our teacher, Mrs. Benedict. She introduced herself and we instantly hit it off. We very quickly became close friends and through the 12 years of school together, we remained inseparable. We considered each other family. She was the ray of sunshine and ball of energy. She always had a smile and always knew how to make you laugh. She was my protector, she was my sister, she was my best friend. After 12 years of friendship, Jessy passed away suddenly due to a brain aneurism. I was with her when it all happened. To this day, this has been the most challenging obstacle I have faced. I still struggle with this on a daily basis and miss her so much. However, I try to remember that she has helped make me the person I am today. In our years of friendship, she taught me many things, like how to enjoy the little things in life; to be grateful for every moment; to understand everything happens for a reason; to be open to change and embrace it; to be spontaneous; to follow your dreams; not to worry about what other people think and just be yourself; to be open-minded, kind-hearted, tolerant, and respectful to everyone because you never know the battles they are facing or what/where they come from; to be loyal and supportive to the people you care about; and most importantly, to be sure to let the people you care about know how much you care as often as you can. When we were kids, she taught me simple things like how to ride a bike and how to deal with a bully or handle a problem. She was one of the most inspirational people I have ever known. I miss her daily but know that she has molded me into the person I am today. I live each day in her memory, hoping I can be a fraction of the person she once was, hoping that I can make a difference in someone's life and impact them as greatly as she impacted me and so many others in her short 17 years of life.
^^^Jessy & I Through The Years^^^
**4th Grade Halloween Parade, 8th Grade Graduation, Jessy's 17th Birthday**
Long story short, the five people I have mentioned have helped to turn me into the person I am today. I am eternally grateful for their patience, kindness, and love. Without their support, who knows how different my life could've been. So many things that they taught me I pass on to my students on a daily basis in class. I want to make a difference in their lives the way each of these people have made a difference in my life. I hope I can be successful in such a venture.
