When I started my practicum, I felt a sense of anxiety and confusion. During the summer, I hadn’t worked with children or been in a childcare setting, which left me feeling uncertain about my abilities. I needed to re-enter the space and mindset of recalling my previous practice from the months before. On my first day back, I was unsure of what to expect and what I needed to focus on, especially since I knew this practicum was graded, adding some pressure.
Thankfully, my mentor, Mary, supported me right away. On the very first week, she visited Ai Lun and me to check in on how we were feeling. I shared my concerns, and she quickly reassured me, reminding me that from previous practicum experiences, she knew I was doing a great job. She acknowledged that feeling uncertain was completely normal and reassured me that I was a good educator. She encouraged me to ask any questions without hesitation. That reassurance immediately lifted my spirits and helped me feel more confident as I returned to the practicum.
In the first few weeks, I focused on building new relationships and reconnecting with the children I had worked with previously. It had been four months since I last saw the children who remembered me, so re-establishing those connections with both the new and returning children became a priority. That was my main focus during the initial weeks of practicum.
