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As children, many of us dream of becoming teachers as they are usually the first people outside of the family circle that we admire. However, for Melissa Guillen it wasn’t just a childhood dream; it became her vocation and passion.

Guillen of Mount Airy, a graduate of Surry Community College, is a Multilingual Learners (ML) Specialist at Dobson Elementary School (DES). She graduated from Surry Community College in 2016, receiving an Associate in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education. She then transferred to University of North Carolina Greensboro where she received a Bachelor of Science in Birth through Kindergarten, obtaining an ESL (English as a Second Language) licensure alongside a teaching licensure.

She credits her third-grade teacher at DES, Mrs. Jackie Jackson Arrington, as being the first person who inspired her to pursue education. “She was great, and I could see that she enjoyed her job,” she says. “I also grew up with two younger siblings, who I would help take care of, and I liked being around them. At one point in time, my mom was a Sunday school teacher, and I would volunteer as her assistant. Furthermore, there aren’t many Latino/a teachers, and I wanted to be a representation to children that if I could do it, so could they. All of these experiences helped me figure out that I wanted to teach children.”

As a first-generation college student, Guillen says that one of the reasons she chose SCC’s Early Childhood Education program is SCC’s affordable courses. “Rather than applying for a four-year university right after graduating high school, I found that starting my education at Surry would be easier financially. It was also close to home, which was great.”

Guillen recalls her instructors and her time in the Early Childhood Education program fondly. “The instructors were amazing. During my time at Surry, I had two instructors, Mary Olvera and Amanda Gregory, which helped develop a closer connection, as opposed to a bigger school. I still keep in touch with them, years after graduating from Surry.”

She adds, “I loved being able to do internships; I was able to get hands-on experience in daycare and classroom settings. My instructors gave me guidance and offered great information. I am very thankful for them and the opportunity of doing an internship at DES as I am now a DES employee.”

Guillen readily recommends Surry Community College’s Early Childhood Education program, citing that the instructors are kind, knowledgeable, and helpful. She goes on to say that there are plenty of hands-on experiences to gain exposure in the field.

To those thinking of majoring in Early Childhood Education, Guillen offers advice. “To all the future early childhood educators, hold on to your passion. It is not an easy job, but if you can hold on to what you love about it and why you entered the field, it will be a lot easier. I would also like to say thank you for being someone who wants to take on the role of an educator. Many early childhood educators are not given the credit or respect they deserve, but we play a crucial role in a child’s educational journey.”

“Early childhood educators have the greatest opportunity to lay the foundation for lifelong development and learning. Our program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience they need to make an impact in this vital field,” adds Kayla Norman, Lead Instructor of Education at SCC.

The Early Childhood Education program prepares individuals to work with children from infancy through middle childhood in diverse learning environments. Course work includes child growth and development; students will foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional, and creative development of children.

For more information regarding the Early Childhood Education program, contact Kayla Norman, SCC Lead Instructor of Education, at (336) 386-3351 or at normanks@surry.edu.