Michelle’s Dream of Being a Teacher

As a child, Michelle’s dream was to become a teacher, but at 15 years old, pregnancy shifted her focus as she considered how to balance being a mother and continuing her education. Unexpectedly, a referral to Florence Crittenton Services became a supportive path to achieving her dreams after all.

After graduating in 2021, Michelle began working at FloCrit’s Early Childhood Education Center, the same place that cared for her daughter while she pursued her diploma at Florence Crittenton High School. Empowered by FloCrit’s assistance, Michelle seized the opportunity to further her credentials by earning a Child Development Associate’s (CDA) through the University of Colorado. Florence Crittenton Services not only alleviated the financial burden of this certification but also provided her with a workplace to accrue her required practicum hours.

Reflecting on her transformative experience at FloCrit, Michelle recalls “I feel like FloCrit has helped me open up a lot. I’m an outgoing person now and I can use my words…I learned how to calm myself down; every time I used to get mad I would explode, but now I know how to deal with my feelings. I’ll just take a quick breather and be good.”

Expanding on this, Michelle explains that “When I grew up, it was always ‘No, don’t do that!’ and ‘No, don’t do this! Always ‘no.’ But in my CDA classes, I learned to give kids a reason for why we couldn’t do something.” Using positive reinforcement and emphasizing safety with kids, Michelle empowers children in her preschool classroom to speak up for themselves, a practice she learned at FloCrit.

“I even tell my daughter how important it is to express yourself and how important it is to speak up.” Michelle says. Her daughter, Elizabeth, now in the second grade, is a constant reminder of Michelle’s resilience and potential. “When I was pregnant, I had so many doubts. I thought that at 15, I couldn’t be a mom, but now I see my daughter and the way she is, I’m so proud of myself. She brings a lot of joy to my life, and I thank FloCrit a lot for that.”

Florence Crittenton Services provides comprehensive support that launches people like Michelle, her daughter, and even her classroom full of preschool students into promising futures. You can contribute to this stellar mission by joining us on April 18th at our signature event, Pathways to Empowerment: Launching the Future, hosted the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

For more information and to purchase tickets for Pathways to Empowerment: Launching the Future, click the button below!