 Autobiography Time
To really get to know the roots of SunshineECE, you need to get to know me first. My name is Ruzana Tadzhibayev but everyone just calls me Rose. I am a mom of 1 son and 2 fur-babies. Little details about me are that I am driven, energetic, forgetful and super empathetic. I like to garden veggies and flowers but my true plant love is reserved for succulents. I am a tom boy, love insects and playing outdoors.
My passion and inspiration to teach came from multiple influences throughout my life. Naturally I always loved children, helping others and leading by example.
I am a Middle-eastern/Russian immigrant who came here from the Soviet Union as a Christian refugee with my family when I was just a toddler in 1995 . My family struggled to adapt and survive in the new environment and I was forced into situations that made me mature very quickly. As soon as I learned to read and speak English, I was translating at appointments, caring for my siblings and taking care of my parents communication barriers everywhere that we went.
Starting Kindergarten was not an easy task for me. I never attended a preparedness program or even a opening-night. My parents had no idea how to register their first child into school. My first day, I had no idea how to ask where the bathroom was. I remember spending many nights crying to my parents that I can not understand anyone, nor they me. Adjusting and learning English became my only priority during this stage in my life. By 3rd grade, I was proficient enough to be able to make friends and do my own homework. I was obsessed with the accuracy of my English proficiency, therefore I do not have an accent when I speak in Russian or English. I assimilated and loved going to school as I spoke clearer. Therefore my experiences as a English Language Learner, give me the first-hand knowledge of what my students will experience. My motivation fuels me to finding creative ways to get to know each individual student and bring their language and culture into my environment.
Over a series of unfortunate events, I became the full-time caretaker of my niece at 9 years old when my parents were at work. My brother continued a turmoiled lifestyle for many years and I spent my entire adolescence raising his children. I was 13 when I became homeschooled so I could care for all 5 of the children full-time.... Yep no joke. yes technically that's legal.
Finally, when my mother could not work another day at a conveyor line, we decided to open a childcare center. I was 15 and unable to legally open a business meanwhile; my mother was not able to speak a full sentence in English, but we started in our basement in 2007. I graduated from high school at 16 and started attending Moberly Area Community College for my Early Childhood degree.
Raising my nieces and nephews gave me the inspiration to becoming a better teacher. I already knew I was a teacher. I wanted to be a effective teacher.
After I started school, one of our clients at our small in-home daycare had a traumatic event occur in their family and the children were placed into the foster care system. The family had no one near to take the children immediately. When the Children’s Division and Police Officers came to take those children from our care, I was devastated. We immediately submitted our application for kinship care for those children. The separation was not easy for them. The children suffered so much harm and needed therapy to readjust to the change as well as continue to grow. One child suffered from depression, anger management and aggression, the second child failed to thrive and had ADHD, and lastly, the third child was suicidal and suffered from sexual abuse. The amount of patience and time it took was incredible over the years, nonetheless the children grew into amazing and thoughtful teenagers. The children were placed back with their family in a successful reunification and another lifelong lesson for me. I fell in love with how much therapy can help the mind overcome any obstacle. This was also the cause for my degree in psychology. I received mt BA in Child Psychology in 2013 at Columbia College.
I want my knowledge and experience to allow myself as a teacher to be the help and support that a child needs in order to grow into a successful citizen in society; reaching their full potential and offering more help in return.
Those 3 huge events in my life made me who I am today. I took over my mother’s daycare center in 2011 and have really created a quality rich environment for children as well as a profitable business for our entire family. The experiences and memories I have give me the motivation to continue pursuing my education. My goals in life are to change as many children’s lives as I can, through education and mental health. I believe that my future has so many opportunities, that I am unable to choose. I want to open a larger childcare facility, our current daycare center has grown and expanded. I want to teach in a school. I want to be a principal. I want to get my Masters in School Counseling and become a Guidance Counselor. I want to be a child psychologist. I want to join the School Board. I want to get my Masters in Teachers and then my PH.D. Running the center, I want more business management skills! I want to teach other adults how to teach! The possibilities are endless! My main goal is to help children learn and grow into good people. I’ve learned that I have a big heart and a lot of love to share. Kindness is also my greatest weakness. My always aim high but I know I never know where I will land. I squeeze my eyes shut and enjoy the ride. I am looking forward to what I will be in five to ten years.
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