My Supports

My biggest supports in my daily environment are family and friends. My mother and father have supported me all of my life. In this present time, they support me by letting me live with them (for free) while I finish Graduate School. Their words of encouragement are always helpful whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed or down. My family has always supported my endeavors and have always encouraged me to do my best at whatever. My friends are always there when I need to talk and have always given me positive and constructive advice. When my friends aren't there to talk to, I always pray. My faith in God has gotten me through a lot these past few years. I believe without these supports I wouldn't be the person I am today.  I thank God for placing such a great support system in my life.

A specific challenge that I am currently dealing with is school and work. I've recently just started a new job and going to school online is something new to me. It has been a struggle managing both, because they both are demanding. It has been kind of overwhelming, but encouraging words from my family and friends especially my mother have inspired me to keep pushing forward through both my career and education.

My Connection to Play

“Go and play. Run around. Build something. Break something. Climb a tree. Get dirty. Get in some trouble. Have some fun.” -Brom, the Child Thief

This quote really sums up what play was to me during my childhood.

“What strange creatures brothers are!” - Jane Austen

I chose this quote because they were my primary playmates. Even though they didn’t want to play with Barbies and other girly things, my brothers made my childhood amazing! We still play.

 Sidewalk chalk was so essential to my childhood. I made hopscotch boards, 2 and 4 square boards, kept game scores, and many other things with sidewalk chalk. I used chalk at home and school.

 

 Spalding was my best friend 3^rd- about 8^th grade. I loved playing basketball and football as well. I played summer league basketball in 3^rd and 4^th grade, then I played the city league. My dad even had a concrete slab and basketball goal in the backyard for me and my brothers. We’d stay outside all night during the summer playing basketball.

Good, quality tennis shoes are essential to every childhood. I was a tomboy at heart, blame my brothers and dad. It was important to have good tennis shoes, because I would run at school and through my neighborhood. I loved playing, I loved running, and being outside.

My parents always encouraged us to go outside. We’d stay outside for hours, riding our bikes, playing games, and exploring our neighborhood. I’ve had teachers to take us outside during science lessons and have us explore our school grounds and let us explore nature. We had recess every day, well when weather permitted. I believe I had an awesome early childhood education, because my teachers allowed us to explore the world around us. We were playing while we were learning. I remember every school year, my teachers allowed us to help them clean their classrooms. They would give us some of their supplies they had used throughout the year. I’d use these leftover supplies they gave me to play school at home with my teddy bears and friends that would come over. I feel like my parents and teachers promoted my play by letting me be free and letting my creativity to live. I also developed cognitively, socially, and physically.

I feel like play is different because there is so many bad things going on in the communities. Children aren’t allowed to go outside and be free because of the risks of violence in the community. Their parents are afraid to let their children go outside. Some children are placed in front of a T.V and play video games all day, when they aren’t at school.