OMEP

I guess it is time to talk about my future. The past few days have been packed full of sightseeing and travel, so it was time to slow things down a little and take a day to relax. After sleeping through half the day I cleaned up my room and started getting caught up on my email. I was simply passing the time until I had to go meet with my teacher. 

At 3pm I had coffee with Judith to talk about future advocacy opportunities and reflecting on class these past three weeks. I generally like to get to know my teachers better, but three quick weeks was not long enough to build a strong relationship. We met at a coffee shop and I told her about my social work education and post graduation options. 

It's been an interesting journey leaving my home in California and traveling across the country to college in Vermont, and now across the world to study in Denmark. I've been at the University of Vermont for three years, and I have only one year left. People often ask me "What are you going to do after you graduate?" or "Are you going to stay in Vermont?" My response is always, "That's the million dollar question." Luckily I have some direction knowing I want to work with children and families, but there are an infinite number of possibilities when working with this population. Ever since I transitioned from environmental science to the social work program, I knew I wanted to work with children. I thought being a therapist was all I wanted to do, but Judith's story and experiences have opened my eyes to all that I can do within the field. I'm inspired to explore other ways I can advocate for children in addition to working in a therapeutic setting.

If we were interested, Judith offered to pay for each of our memberships to OMEP USA. The World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP) is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization that works towards ensuring the wellbeing, rights, and education of children and their families around the world - today and in the future. I happily accepted this generous gift and am now a member. Whether or not I am actively involved or just read the newsletter every once in a while, I feel as though I am part of an organization bigger than myself with a possibility to make a difference. 

Now a member of OMEP USA, I have the possibility of attending various conferences throughout the country and the world. Simply having membership in this organization is a first step into the advocacy realm. In 2015 the international conference will be held in the United States and I hope to attend. This will provide me the opportunity to meet some interesting and notable people which may ultimately open the door to outreach and advocacy opportunities in the future. 

Some people have hobbies like playing basketball, sewing, or reading, but I intend to make child advocacy my hobby. Whatever my education takes me, I know child advocacy will be a big part of my future.