Be Myself – The Affectional Awakening of a Senior Kindergarten Principle

• Main Authors: Wong Chen﹐Hsiu-chen, 翁陳綉針
• Other Authors: Lai﹐Chen-pin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/81092551075987923844

碩士 === 樹德科技大學 === 幼兒保育學系 === 96 === Abstract This study is an investigation about “me,”and my twelve-year experience as a kindergarten principle. Through the process of self-narrative, I became in touch with my inner self and began to understand the reasons for the struggles in my married, career, and academic lives. I developed a new perspective of my life and started to learn about my own potentials. In my journey to become my own person, I attempted to accomplish the ideal image of an early childhood educator in my mind. I grew up in a Patriarchy society. For the past fifty years, I have always been accustomed to just set aside my own feelings and live up to others' expectations and be responsible for others. I never considered or feel obligated to act for myself. After twenty years of being married, and after encounters of family deaths, which involved the loss of my younger brother and my father, and difficulties in both of marriage and career lives, I realized I have lived a meaningless life. It was then that I decided to take control of my life and enroll in a master's program. I believe through my study of self-narrative, I can gain more understanding of my past experiences and ultimately, speak and live for myself. Even though, several times, my study has been restrained by my earlier learning experiences, such as experiences in a patriarchal system, my childhood experiences, and studying through a fixed learning model, I was able to overcome the obstacles through my own persistence and through the help of others. The guidance and patience of my academic colleagues encouraged me to face the difficulties I encountered. Later on, I became inspired to care for and to understand others. I was motivated to share my experiences and guide women who find themselves in the same dilemma as me. By sharing with other, I have become freed of the restraints that were placed upon me in the past. I am able to just be myself and speak my feelings out loud. Through the process of freeing myself, I can relate more to the woman I am helping and allowing her to be free of restraints as well. The experience of sharing and caring for others guide me down a different path in exercising my work as a professional early childhood educator. Keywords: Self -Narrative, Professional Development, Early Childhood Educator