Inspirational Quotes

"We must be the compassion we wish to see in others."

"The moment I decide to follow instead of lead.  I discovered the joys of becoming part of a small child's world."

-Janet Gonzalez-Mena



"There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves."

"We must open the doors of opportunity.  But we must also equip our people to walk through those doors."

-President Lyndon B. Johnson




"Built in passion that is was important to make a contribution to the world.  To fix all injustice in the world."

-Louise Derman-Sparks


"It's not about you, you have to take your ego out of it and think about what is best for the child and you help them transition."

-Penatta M. Cooper


Laureate Education, Inc. (2010). The passion for early childhood.

Personal Childhood Web

This is my childhood web.  People whom impacted my life as a child and still to this day.  These are the people who helped mold me, instilled values and traditions and more in my life.  Who show me love and compassion.  

  This is my grandmother, or as I would call her my granny.  She is my paternal grandmother and has indeed made a major impact in my life.  Our relationship was very close, especially the older I became.  When my mother past away she stepped in as a mother-role for me and my sisters.  She was more of a mother to me in my life, due to my age when losing my mother.  I thank her for so many things: loving me, understanding me, helping me, supporting me, caring, feeding me, clothing me, redirecting me, guidance, and many more things.  Her vow to my mother to take care of us girls remained strong until the day she died.  I miss her terribly.  She was always a phone call away.  Even after her passing she still makes an impact on my life.  I strive to do the things I know she would want me to do, such as: advance myself academically, professionally, and spiritually.  She would always talk about morals and characters, and living the right life.  I hold those values dear and strive to instill those in my children.  I have many great memories of her that I hold dear to my heart.  I can recall times I would help her cook, the family coming together every Sunday after church.  To go back to some of those days would be great.  I talk about her to my kids now.  My middle son put the biggest smile on my face one day.  He made a comment about a tomato I was cutting.  He said “Granny loved tomatoes didn’t she mama.”  My heart grew.  These small details of my memories, were also become part of my kids lives.  Family was important to my granny.  I try to value it as much as she did.

 My beautiful mother.  I was 4 months shy of being 7 years old when my mother past away.  I think for any child that is extremely difficult, losing a parent no matter the age.  Even though I do not have many memories of my mother, I know she made an impact on my life during those 7 years.  She was a teacher at the preschool I attended for a while.  Then she was at home, after school she would be there.  I remember snacks she would have for us.  My favorite carrots or celery with peanut butter.  I also remember when she would make us eat brussels sprouts.  I find it very funny how I hated them as a child, she even caught me throwing some away in the trashcan one night.  Yet today I love them, especially roasted.  My mother was a nurturing woman.  She loved kids, helping others, and making people happy.  Based on my experience and the testimonies of others, I know she made a huge impact on my life.  Don’t get me wrong there are many things I missed out on without having my mother, such as: becoming a woman, my first boy crush, my first break-up, cheering, prom, and more.  I will always have questions of who she was, because I had such little time with her.  I am fortunate enough to have some videos of the family, as well as phots.  I actually have my 5^th birthday party on video.  I hear her call me ladybug, I guess that is why I love ladybugs.  Knowing how kind-heart and loving my mother was, allowed me to strive to be like her.  To even try to make the choices I think she would want me to make throughout life.  To this day I still carry this ambition and desire.  I pray to see her one day and I want her to be proud of me.

  My father and 2 of my boys.  I would have to say that my father has made the most impact on my life, due to the events that transpired in my life.  As an adult it is easier to see the impact that someone has made on your life.  My father raised 3 girls as a single parent for about 8 years.  Providing a needs for a home.  My father is and always has been a hard working individual.  Always staying busy.  I have an abundance of memories of my father.  Many relate to the sport I love, softball.  He was my coach for many years.  We would travel and play ball.  At one time I played for 4 teams.  Those were great days that taught me the importance of a team, a unit.  I would say that my father’s hard-work ethics still makes an impact on my life today.  Always trying to better yourself.

This is my oldest sister.  I would have to say that my sister made a great impact on my childhood, and still does today.  As the older sister, she stepped in as mother role or leadership.  Possibly why she is extremely good at leading and executing.  From helping out during the school years and the diverse peers we encounter as teenagers, she has always been there for me.  She has a genuine heart of gold and strives to help in difficult times.  I can not tell you the amount of times I have cried to her.  Do not get me wrong, as any other siblings growing up we indeed had our share of battles.  No matter what, as my granny would tell us, family is all you have.  Us, 3 sisters had each other to count on and support.  To this day she is one of the very first to know anything that is transpiring in my life.  She is not just a sister, she is a friend.  Someone you can count on.  Someone you can laugh, cry, and scream with forever.  As our kids grow up together, we strive to keep our families close; just as granny would want us to.

 My sisters, as seen above my oldest is on the left and youngest is on the right.  Even though she is my youngest sister she still has made an impact on my life, even as a child.  Though we had our older sister, I still strived to help my younger sister growing up and today.  She too has a heart of gold.  Her kindness is a trait I admire.  I have many memories of us as children playing together, and of course being mischievous together.  Today she still impacts my life in a great deal.  She has had a road that some will never see and has held her head high.  No matter her struggles her true golden heart is there.  She will always help someone out in a time of need.   

A Little About My Passion

I have a strong passion to serve children of our world.  I feel we all have a particular gift that we were made to do, and children is my gift.  As an adult now, whom had obstacles in their childhood, currently can see the vital need for proper development and encouragement during childhood.  Children are innocent and are molded by the adults and environment they are surrounded by.  Thereforth it is the adults that are responsible to ensure proper guidance.  There are too many broken families that are creating broken adults.  I feel regardless of one’s family unit, a child must still be guided in proper development.  It takes more than one person to raise a child, it takes an entire village.  The vital years are of the early years, we create a foundation during those years that guide us in our future.  The experience of my early childhood has led to my desire and passion to serve the children of our community and more.  I hope we all can look back on those experiences and see where we can make an impact on a child’s life.  

“Every day in a hundred small ways our children ask, ‘Do you see me?  Do you hear me?  Do I matter?’ Their behaviors often reflects our response.” L. R. Knost

“The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day” John Milton

This drawing created by a child stands out greatly to me.  I admire the union it shares with the viewer, as well as the colors.  It is the colors of fall, when we see a great change in the view outside.  The apples on the tree remind me of how fruitful life can be, how abundant our blessing can be, and how thankful we should be in life.  The diverse hues of people enrich the union of human beings.  I find this drawing to create a great passion of appreciation and kindness.