In January of 2006, I was awarded a Master’s Degree in Child
Development. When I was awarded my degree, I
heard many people say, “Now you can get a real job” and “What are you going to
do now?” They were frequently
shocked when I said, “This is my real job. I want to keep on doing it.” I have
always been a teacherfirst. I cannot
comprehend a day when I won’t be around children. In all my years of pursuing
higher education I have learned
more from my kids than from anyone else. I get so much pleasure from hearing
thoughts and ideas sprung from
minds and mouths that have not yet been told by society “you can’t” or “you
won’t.” Because of life circumstances,
many people say I never had a childhood. I was generally known as “the little
adult.” Perhaps that was so – but now
I am able to see the world through fresh eyes on a daily basis. I am often asked
what I teach to preschoolers. I
can’t help but to think instead of what they teach me. My primary goal is to
help my kids learn to love learning
because that is what will sustain them. Now that I have a degree, many people
expect me to change, but I can’t
say that I will. There are a few parents whose eyes light up when they hear that
their child’s teacher has a Master’s
Degree. But there are even more people out there who say that a degree means
nothing – some of those with the
highest education are the worst teachers.
So why did I get a Master’s Degree? I pursued my degree so that
I could give back to the children a little of what
they give to me. I DID NOT get my degree so that I could teach children how to
spell their names or recall the days
in the week – that will come with time. I DID NOT get my degree to earn more
money or respect. I got a degree
because I am one of the lucky ones who will always learn – no matter how unusual
the source. I got my degree so
that I could watch two children play in the sandbox for five minutes and
understand what they were doing and why.
I got my degree so that I could help others understand that learning does not
have to be painful. True learners will
learn best while laughing, being silly and making mistakes. I got my degree so
that I could help myself and others
understand the science of humanity.
As the end of another school year comes, I hope that you share
the love of learning that I do. I hope that when you
achieve more you will not leave behind the things that you loved to begin with.
I hope that you provide the children
with laughter and that you are standing behind them to help them get up when
they fall. It seems that people expect
me to be different now. I feel like they think I will arrive at preschool with a
power suit and briefcase. They think that
I will assign the children desks and drill them on their letters and numbers. I
will never do this because I have a
degree behind my name.
And so, to those who ask how life is different with an “M.S.”
behind my name, I say: I have a Master’s Degree and I
spend hours teaching children how to negotiate over a block so that they will be
able to negotiate for the rest of their
lives. I have a Master’s Degree and I try to light a candle in young minds. I
have a Master’s Degree and I wipe noses
and teach children how to pull up their pants. And most of all: I have a
Master’s Degree and I do the “Chicken Dance.”
Sandy Jenkins
Editor’s Note: Sandy Jenkins and her husband Shawn are now
the proud parents of Salem Michael Jenkins born
February 19, 2007 weighing 6 lbs 6 oz and measuring 19”. As you can guess, what
Sandy is doing right now is being
a Mother. We send our congratulations and best wishes to the family.
