MEET LENA, STRIVE RESOURCE CENTRE SPECIALIST!
Meet Lena Haider (she/her), one of Strive’s Resource Centre Specialists!
We asked Lena some questions to get to know her a little better. Keep reading to see what she said!
Tell us a bit about yourself…
Hi everyone, my name is Lena and I’ve been an early childhood educator for 9 years now. I’ve been passionate about the early years for as long as I can remember and knew I wanted a career that focused on the well-being of children from a young age! I am mom to the sweetest toddler who has further ignited my passion for early childhood development. I grew up in London, but I moved away at the start of 2021 and recently made my way back home. During my time away from London, I lived in Alberta & Minnesota and although I left both those places with very fond memories; there is truly no place like home. While living in Alberta, I found a love for the outdoors, hikes, lakes and of course the mountains! We spent every weekend discovering new trails, nearby mountain towns and sighting wildlife. Being in Minnesota, also helped me discover a new hobby which is playing pickleball! In the summer you’ll find my husband & I on all the outdoor courts the city of London now has to offer!
Tell us why you chose a career in Early Childhood Education and Care.
I didn’t always know that I wanted to be an Early Childhood Educator specifically, but I did always know that I wanted to work with children in some capacity. During my university studies (particularly in my child psychology class) I became fascinated with how children learn and how their brains develop. I knew from there, that I wanted to be a part of children’s development and help empower not just them, but their families as well. My favourite part of any role I’ve ever had in the field has always been the conversations we get to have with families and helping them learn how much of an important role they play in their own child’s development.
Tell us about your role…What are you looking forward to in this role?
In my role as the Resource Centre Specialist, I will be able to work closely with both families and other early childhood professionals to connect them with resources available in our centre that will enhance children’s development in their care. I’m looking forward to being able to focus on developing resources that our community could benefit from while still having the component of my job that I love the most which is connecting with families & caregivers.
What inspires you…
As we grow and gain new life experiences, I find the source of our inspirations is always changing. Since becoming a mom, my main source of inspiration right now is my daughter. Naturally, she’s at the forefront of my mind all the time. Whatever I wish for daughter, I wish for all children around the world. When she experiences something new, I think about how all other children deserve to have these opportunities too and my mind immediately goes to how can we get this to all children.
Do you have a favourite quote?
I do, it’s actually not related to the field but I truly believe in the quote “If you look good, you feel good.” Looking good means different things to me on different days. Sometimes it means I’m having a great skin day, so automatically I’m in a great mood. Sometimes it means I’m wearing a new sweater and suddenly there’s a pep in my step. Other days it just simply means I did something to take care of my physical health and I feel great about that. The quote is just a great reminder for me to always make time for self-care which is something I know so many of us struggle with. When I’m down or not feeling my best, I try to get myself ready for the day and I become a little more motivated to get up, get out and maybe even be productive.
If you were an ice cream flavour, what flavour would you be and why?
I’m going to say chocolate. That’s the flavour that came to mind as soon as I read the question. Everyone likes chocolate, from young to old. When I look at my peers and my friends in my life, I realize they are all from different walks of life. Some may say it’s a boring flavour, but I think it’s a great base flavour for so many other great desserts and I see that as my own potential. I can evolve and do so many other great things if I set my mind to it.
Welcome to the Strive Team, Lena! We are so excited to work with you!
Join us in extending Lena a warm welcome by commenting below!