Early Childhood Educator in Mississauga, Ontario

For as long as I could remember, I have been touched with the artistry of being creative in both my work and my ideas. My name is Mary Anne Castillo, and growing up, I vowed to myself to work in a field where I am able to express myself freely and creatively, and to show the world what I am capable of. I soon discovered through obtaining my diploma in Early Childhood Education, that this was the space that needed to be filled in my heart, as well as my career. Two years of classroom lectures from amazing professors, and field placements at different daycares, were just the tip of the iceberg of what it meant to be an Early Childhood Educator. With education, came practice﹣ and with that, came a multitude of experiences. At the beginning of my career, I remember thinking “This is it, this is what you’re going to do for the rest of your life Mary Anne.” I was swamped with tinges of regret, but those little teachable moments were what pulled on my heart strings and kept me in tact. But as time went on, I felt the need for a bigger challenge ﹣ so I moved from the lax daycare, to a private-owned preparatory school. Bigger challenges meant bigger responsibilities. And it was during that time frame of five years, that I unequivocally found my own teaching style. Virtues inspired young minds to be patient with themselves and others, act on kindness rather than hate, and promoting self-confidence to ensure that each person was supported in both their individual interests, as well as their opinions. At the very cusp of my time at the private school, I came to a point where I still yearned for something more challenging, and to ultimately find my purpose in a career that I so desperately love. When I began working for a children’s treatment centre early last year, my viewpoint changed drastically as I got first-hand experience of promoting an inclusive learning environment for children with various disabilities in a school system. The discrepancies of providing a safe and inclusive learning environment, while dealing with cases of discrimination and cultural issues, were far beyond my threshold. My drive to strategize solutions, came with collaborating with like-minded professionals who were in a similar field as I was, and since then, I have always felt the urgency to learn more and push myself to my utmost potential. I want to be able to take on that leadership role within my community in confidence, and I am looking for a position to give me that opportunity to make a difference and become that strong leader in advocacy that I yearn to be. Having a foundation in Early Childhood Education is something I believe everyone should have, as nurturing a child’s mind to become the best leader that they can be, is what can be built upon to create a community of endless possibilities. While working towards my BA in Disability Studies, I am excited to apply my knowledge from school and hands-on experience in the field, to a career I am passionate about. Yours sincerely, Mary Anne Castillo Registered Early Childhood Educator