CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Student of the Month
December 2011

Name:  Miami Crissa Gelvezon

Nominated by Professor Rosenfelt because: Miami always attended class ready to participate and learn.  It was obvious she had prepared for class.  She demonstrated excellent academic and professional skills in her assignments (i.e.: turned assignments in on time, followed directions, excellent writing).  As a student in CDV 240, her field work site was extremely impressed with her initiative in the classroom and her work with the children.

Organizations / Honors:
Team Lead for CSUDH Jumpstart Americorps Program

Postgraduate Plans / Career Goals:
I want to eventually obtain my Master’s in education and hopefully become a counselor in my former high school.

You have a unique story. Tell us about yourself.
I was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the US at the age of eight with my parents and six other siblings. My greatest motivation are my parents who have worked very hard to provide for my siblings and me.

Favorite / most influential courses so far in CDV:
CDV 240 and CDV 380 have been the most influential courses that I have taken because it helped me apply the knowledge I attained in CDV and apply it to my workplace and personal life. However, I think all the CDV courses have helped me become a better writer, speaker, student, and person. 

How has your education affected or changed you? What do you enjoy most about your studies?
Majoring in Child Development helped me grow and develop as an individual especially as a student. It broadened my understanding of the social issues facing our children and what I can do to possibly make a difference. The journey of attaining my education has changed my outlook in life into a more positive one. I love that each semester I see myself improving. I enjoy learning from my classmates and gaining a lot of support from the faculty. Lastly, I am thankful to have built strong friendships with the people I study with.

Have there been any individuals who have been especially helpful or inspirational to you?
My parents, my siblings, my friends, my teachers, and my students motivate me each day to keep learning and to keep improving. My family and friends are my greatest support system. My teachers and the children I work with inspire me to reach my potential. Two professors from the Child Development department I really look up to and I hope one day I can possess the same ability as them.

What advice would you give incoming students?
An advice I would give to the incoming students is to really value the knowledge they learn from the courses. Not only should we work for an A but always look at how we can use the knowledge we attain to better ourselves and our community.

Quote: “Luck favors the Prepared”

---

CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Student of the Month
November 2011

Name: Timothy Johansen

Nominated by Professor Rosenfelt because:
He definitely stands out as one of my best students in four years of teaching.  He showed a genuine interest in and passion for the subject matter.  Tim always attended class ready to learn and actively participated in class discussions.  Tim was a student in my Preschool Years course, which required him to complete field work in a preschool setting.  His field site was extremely pleased with his ability to assist in the classroom and become a true part of their team.  He was reliable, responsible and showed compassion and concern for the children and their development.  Tim excelled in his classroom assignments, demonstrating creativity, leadership and the ability to critically think and apply key concepts to his field work.  Tim is a responsible and knowledgeable child development student.

Organizations / Honors:
Volunteer as a mentor for Comfort Zone Camp (CZC)

Postgraduate Plans / Career Goals:
I am currently enjoying my “retirement” by completing my education. I was a machinist for over 25 years, but wanted to be more involved with the community, so I decided to come back to school. I would not have been back in school had it not been for the amazing experiences I have had at CZC and the support from my wife.

Favorite / most influential courses so far in CDV:
I really do not have a favorite class; all of the CDV courses have been powerful motivators for completing my degree. What stands out foremost in my mind is the level of need and the importance of positive experiences for children and adolescents.  My fieldwork has proven to me that being a positive figure in a child’s life can have life-changing effects … for both children and adults!

How has your education affected or changed you? What do you enjoy most about your studies?
My education has made me so much more empathetic to the needs of children, and of getting critical child development information to parents.  What I enjoy most from my studies is the amount of knowledge I have gained, especially this semester. Before my internship, I did not know what I knew. Once in the field, my prior studies came back to me quickly, as I had the opportunity to actually apply CDV concepts in a real world context.

Have there been any individuals who have been especially helpful or inspirational to you?
I am indebted to Professor Allen, Dr. Brentano, Professor Rosenfelt, and Dr. Radmacher. These four women are the core of the CDV department, and I have been most inspired by their command of the subject matter they teach. They all have a high level of professionalism that I have come to appreciate. 

What advice would you give incoming students?
It may seem quite daunting when multiple assignments are in process; I have been overwhelmed at times, but I take it one day at a time…plan out your assignments…schedule good time management strategies…use a planner or whatever works best for you. What has worked for me is to have my plan on paper. Another thing that has served me well is the use of a voice recorder. I read my study notes/study guides into my recorder, and when I am tired or just needing a break, I like to lie down and listen to my notes repeatedly. It is a very handy tool to have when driving as well!

Quote
I am just happy to have the opportunity to better myself, which may be put to good use for the sake of others.

---

CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Student of the Month
May 2011

Name: Maricela I. Guido

Nominated by Dr. Brentano because: Not only do you receive regularly high scores on examinations and papers; but you also display excellent critical thinking skills by applying developmental theories and concepts to current issues, to research data, and the real world. Your sincere desire to explore and learn about all facets of human behavior is reflective of your natural curiosity and enjoyment of learning. If you have difficulty with an assignment or concept, you actively seek to improve your understanding. You are never shy to ask a question to clarify your understanding and don’t rest until you have achieved clarity. You have strong time management skills and you are always prepared – these are traits that are truly outstanding.

Honors: I will be graduating with honors this Summer 2011.

Postgraduate Plans / Career Goals: In the future I will like to continue with my education. I have not decided which masters program will best fit my interests and career goals. I am very passionate about everything related to the development of children with special needs.

You have a unique story. Tell us about yourself.  I am the oldest of five, and this summer, I will also be the first to graduate in my family with a bachelor’s degree. I grew up with multiple risk factors associated with living in poverty with a single parent. At a very young age, I had to assume adult roles. I became a parent during my late teen years. I always knew that education was very important for me, and by the time my second daughter was born, I had already graduated from college with honors with an Associate in Arts Degree. Since then, I had to juggle my school work with my full time employment and the time I spend with my family.

Favorite / most influential courses so far in CDV:  I enjoyed all my courses in child development, but my most influential course was Parenting (CDV 366).  I learned about the importance of being a proactive parent and how the environment shapes who we are as parents. In addition, I learned about the importance of early development for children’s outcomes.

How has your education affected or changed you? What do you enjoy most about your studies?  Education has changed me in many ways. Now, I use my critical thinking skills to analyze both sides of an issue.  I learned about the power of “I-messages”. This has helped me with all my personal relationships. As a professional, I learned about the importance of developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood education. As a parent, I am aware of protective factors that will help enhance my daughter’s development.

Have there been any individuals who have been especially helpful or inspirational to you?
There have been different individuals who have inspired me. At school Professor Brentano inspired me to become a strong knowledgeable woman like herself. Once she told me that it takes only one person, to make a difference in a person’s life. For me, she is that person. From her I learned about the importance of not taking short cuts in life.

At work, Kelly Sowle had inspired me to continue being a role model among my co-workers. She taught me that it is not what happens to me, but how I see and approach life. Once she said, “Ask yourself, is this thought making me happy? If is not, then get that thought out of your mind”. She had always encouraged me to keep my spirit high even when they are not.

At home, my family motivates me the most. My mother taught me to not be afraid of working hard. My husband’s wisdom inspires me to become a better person, and my daughters are my fuel to keep going.

What advice would you give incoming students?  The advice I would give to incoming students is to always set goals in their life and work hard in order to achieve those goals. I encourage them to not sit around waiting for something to happen, but to get up instead and make things happen for themselves. If your want something in life, you need to go get it because nobody will bring it to you.

Quote: "Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do."  Bruce Lee

 

---

CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Student of the Month
April 2011

Name: Veronica E. Aguilar

Nominated by Dr. Radmacher because:
Veronica is an excellent student. She receives regularly high scores on examinations and papers; she displays excellent critical thinking skills by applying developmental theories and concepts to current issues and to her daily experience involving children; and she demonstrates excellent leadership and communication skills in her interactions in her work groups and in her written and oral presentations. Veronica’s sincere desire to explore and learn about all facets of human behavior is reflective of her natural curiosity and enjoyment of learning. It is always a pleasure having a student like Veronica who is hardworking, dedicated, and actively engaged. If she has difficulty with an assignment or concept, she actively seeks to improve her skills and understanding. She also encourages and supports others in their academic pursuits, which is also evident in her involvement as a mentor for Project Rise (Recruit, Inspire, Support, Educate).

Organizations / Honors:

• Child Development Nominee for Honors in Major Spring 2011
• Project RISE

Postgraduate Plans / Career Goals:
After graduation, I plan on working and saving money to buy a house. I plan on going to graduate school in the next 2-5 years to become a Social Worker. I want to work with at risk youth in a small group setting.

Favorite courses so far in CDV:
Any class taught by Dr. Brentano because she has challenged me in so many ways. 

How has your education affected or changed you? What do you enjoy most about your studies?
My education has taught me a lot about children, especially my own. It has also taught me that if I but my mind to it, no matter how hard it may be, I can achieve anything.  Nobody can take away the wealth of knowledge that an education gives you. The thing that I enjoy most about my studies is being able to apply theories and concepts in other classes as well as in the real world.

Have there been any individuals who have been especially helpful or inspirational to you?
The teachers in the Child Development program have all been very helpful, especially Dr. Radmacher and Dr. Brentano. They have always been there to answer my questions whenever I got stuck and they teach in a way that helps you understand and absorb the information. Another person who has been especially helpful has been my friend, Nisha Dobbins. I never thought of obtaining a Bachelors’ Degree until I meet her, she is the reason that I am at CSUDH.  She has been a good friend and study partner. She has been the ying to my yang. 

What advice would you give incoming students?
The advice that I would give incoming students is to build their support system with the people in their major. Chances are you will be seeing them semester after semester.  Also, I would encourage incoming students to make use of their Professor’s office hours because the Professors are there to help you be successful in your academic endeavors. Finally, work hard and you will be rewarded.

Quote: “For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice - no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.”
- John Burroughs