Shoshonia Water Clark views the world with a different lens.<\/p>\n
Growing up on the Navajo Reservation has its challenges and the opportunities for Navajo people are sometimes scarce, she said. However, considering the many setbacks of the indigenous people, Clark said she is up for the challenge in trying to guide her people, starting with its youngest, in the right direction through the study of psychology.<\/p>\n
Clark recently completed her bachelor\u2019s degree in psychology from Dine College and is a recipient of a First Things First College Scholarship. The FTF Navajo Nation Regional Partnership Council is one of 15 FTF regions that supports professional development opportunities for early childhood educators and professionals, including college scholarships.<\/p>\n
Clark grew up in Rock Point, Arizona, and as a young adult struggled in her personal life. She survived a domestic abuse relationship, but was left haunted by low self-esteem and the life-threatening feelings of depression. With her belief in Navajo traditions and the support of her family, she made the ultimate decision to remove herself from the hostile environment to bounce back, be with her daughter and push herself through online classes that led to completing her degree.<\/p>\n
The personal experience of hitting rock bottom and eventually taking steps to reach success caused her to want to learn more about how the human mind works. And, most importantly, to help young children on the reservation who have experienced similar traumatic experiences of domestic violence within their home, by helping to prevent or lessen the impact of these adverse childhood experiences, known as ACEs.<\/p>\n
While Clark was taking college courses, she served an internship at Eve\u2019s Place, which assists victims of domestic, sexual and teen dating abuse.<\/p>\n
Now, Clark hopes to help young children who have experienced ACEs, which include nine types of childhood trauma ranging from household dysfunction to abuse. These frequent or prolonged adverse experiences are sources of toxic stress, which can harm children\u2019s developing brains so acutely that the effects show up decades later.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are areas\u00a0that are affecting families now as we in high percentages of substance and alcohol abuse, along with sexual abuse and domestic violence in families,\u201d she said. \u201cChildren at a very young age can hold and remember lots of things within that time frame. I\u2019ve worked with children even at the age of 5 who can mimic everything you do, say, act, or even feel. Their minds are just turning and gears are grinding to learn. I know that from a young age that children are very smart, and very loving people and individuals. They have their own little personalities and light to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
By helping more future early childhood professionals receive education and training like Clark, FTF is expanding the pool of educators who can help Arizona\u2019s youngest children build a strong foundation.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The FTF Navajo Nation Regional Council is one of 15 FTF regions that supports professional development opportunities, including college scholarships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":31233,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[107,172,273],"class_list":["post-31232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-early-childhood","tag-navajo-nation","tag-professional-development","regions-navajo-nation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n