Yes, I Actually Use My Degree in Child Development Outside of a Teaching Job

Ever since I can remember, whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to do, I would always answer that I wanted to be a teacher. So when it came time to go to college, that's what my focus was. Central Michigan University was well known as a high quality teacher education university so it was the only one on my list. Immediately I looked through the degree requirements and tried my best to start off only taking classes that would go toward my degree in elementary education. I continued on this path for 3 years of my college career. Having been accepted into the college of education with a major declared in child development (going for early elementary endorsement).

But Wait I Don't Want to do THAT...

After several teaching related classes, and figuring up how much longer it would take to finish my degree, I came to the realization that I did not want to spend everyday in a teaching environment. So I quickly made an appointment with a child development advisor, and we went over other options that were still in the early childhood field, yet not a teaching career. I kept the Child Development Major and then tailored my remaining classes to the human services field, which could include a wide variety of jobs and career paths such as programming, hospital social work, foster care services and a ton more.

How Did this Prepare Me For a Career?

The first couple of classes I needed to take had to do directly with child development and preschool programming. In addition to these classes though I was able to take a practicum type class which required volunteer time with at least 3 different human services organizations. I loved this exposure. Further on into the year I took a social services programming class which taught how to assess the needs of the community and develop a program around it. With many leadership opportunities woven within the program, my B.S. in Child Development really ended up being a well rounded degree in child development as well as program design and management.

And it all Brings Me Back Home

For a year after graduation I had some interesting exposure to a brand new program in a youth detention facility. After a while this was definitely not the job for me. Imagine 5'3" 110 lb me working the 3rd shift in a non-secure detention home. Since that was not a well paying job, I ended up back home to save money and find a better job. I breifly worked for the YWCA in before and after school care, leading into a supervision role. This program was still in the development stage so I assisted in growing the program from 3 sites to 10 in just a year's time.

Then On to a Mix of What I Love

Now after 8 years I can really say that I am in a job that actually utilizes the college degree I obtained from Central Michigan University. My job with Head Start (a federally funded preschool program) has evolved over the time I have been with the agency. I get to work with preschool children - one of the highlights of the job - as I ensure the classrooms are running properly. The other half of my job requires a lot of the programming education I received. The actual title is an Outcomes Specialist, which basically means that anything having to do with a report, number, statistic or child outcome I have my hands on in some way. I also very much enjoy this portion of my job. One of the major functions is taking the data from child outcomes and using it to not only justify our program, but develop employee professional development experiences.

Though you may think a degree in child development would only lead to a preschool teacher or director profession, it really has a way of evolving to create the experience a person really enjoys if you are open to possibilities.