I am Larissa R. Hall and I was born to John L. and Wilma R. Hall on February 17th in Utica, NY. They knew I was going to be a special person because I was born on my grandmother’s 50th birthday. I have 3 siblings, 2 brothers and 1 sister of which I am the second oldest. I currently reside in Philadelphia, PA and attended school in the Philadelphia Public School System. I am a musician by heart, mind and soul who has a passion for children.
While attending the Girard Academic Music Program, initially for singing, I learned to play the trombone and was also taught music theory, how to read and write music, which only increased my love for music all the more. After getting a good grasp on the trombone I decided to pick up the trumpet and taught myself how to play that as well. Upon graduating high school I attended Eastern University where I studied music education and church music. Later, I transferred to Temple University and there I studied Jazz performance with a minor in music education.
I have always had a great connection with children and during my early teenage years I obtained my first job which was babysitting for some friends of the family. I enjoyed being with children so much that my first “real-world” paying job was at a summer camp. Between volunteering at the church Vacation Bible School and working at the summer camp I realized I have a great connection with children and can help make a difference in their lives and that is what I seek to do.
The Essay on Home Schooling Children School Child
Home Schooling Home schooling is an alternative to public education. It is a choice that many more parents are making today, and even more are projected to make by the year 2000. It is estimated that at the end of the year 2000 there will be 2, 000, 000 home schoolers in the United States (Gorder 1996). There are other alternatives to Public School education. Some examples are Catholic or Private ...
I have since been employed at a few different childcare facilities along with a music store and book store but no matter what I always found myself returning to working in either a childcare or school setting. Recently, I had the privilege to work at an elementary school for 5 years. Initially, I was hired to be a lunchroom aide, but after careful observation I was granted the opportunity to become their music teacher. This was an honor to me because I had not yet received a degree in music.
I taught the choir and I was able to pass on my knowledge of music theory to children in grades K-8th. I was employed as the instrumental music teacher and taught beginner piano, trumpet, flute, clarinet and saxophone lessons. This was most of the children’s first experience in learning a musical instrument and I was honored to be the person to impart my knowledge into them. Unfortunately, it was time for me to move on from this place of employment and as I searched for other employment I was led to another childcare facility, where I am still employed.
I have been at the Jenkintown Day Nursery for 2 years now and although sometimes challenging, it has indeed been a rewarding opportunity. During this time, I had an urge to get a better understanding of how to properly care for children and to further my education in Early Childhood Education. I thought and prayed long and hard about this and the door was opened for me to fulfill this desire. Now, I am taking classes to obtain my CDA and words can’t express the excitement I feel in being able to fulfill this.
Upon completion of my CDA, I plan on getting my certification to teach music to preschool aged children. Even though I am already working in the field and teaching music too, I desire to have the certification to do this. Just knowing that I am fulfilling the things I was meant to do is an exciting feeling and to know that I can do both, childcare and teach music, makes this opportunity even more rewarding.