Lauren Marcotte, Bloorview School Authority (affiliated with Holland Bloorview Hospital)

What was your initial reaction to working with children in this placement?

As a placement student, I supported and developed learning opportunities for the students based on their interests, the curriculum, and their needs. Initially, I was really excited! It was for my 4th year placement which means I was responsible for deciding on a site on my own. The main obstacle that I had to overcome during this placement was self-doubt and anxiety. The first few days were very stressful as I felt overwhelmed and nervous about making a mistake.

How did you overcome these hurdles — and what did you learn about yourself and your practice?

I focused on developing a solid relationship with my Field Educator, other staff, and the children. It was crucial that my Field Educator and other staff were supporting me in my ability to push through moments of self-doubt.  I learned that nerves are normal when gaining new experiences but having supportive people around you can make a difference in overcoming your self-doubt.

How did this field experience influence your plans for working in the early childhood sector?

As I gain more experience in the field, I always aim to create an environment where everyone feels supported; children, families, and educators alike, as my own experience reflects how significant it can be.

My placement experience at Bloorview School Authority reinforced my passion for working with children with disabilities. I knew that I wanted to go into research after this program and my placement has been instrumental in determining the topic for my Masters Research Paper in my current MA ECS program as I am focusing on disability identity in children's literature.