My Head Start Story: Yesmith

Submitted by: Yesmith, Head Start Parent

I am a mother, a first-generation college student, and someone who has worked hard to build a better future for my family. My journey has not always been easy. There were many times when I had to balance being a mother, going to school, and trying to continue working toward the dreams I had for myself and my children.

My journey with Head Start first began as a parent. While my children attended Head Start, I was given the opportunity to join the Head Start Apprenticeship Program. While my children were in school learning and growing, I was also given the opportunity to learn and grow.

I remember the long nights finishing homework at one in the morning while holding my newborn child. I was tired, but those moments also gave me strength to continue. I wanted to finish school and one day earn my college degree. I wanted my children to see that even though things can be difficult, you can still have dreams and continue working towards them.

I also struggled with postpartum, and school became an important part of my journey. The apprenticeship program motivated me and was there to support me. Most importantly, there were people within the program who believed in me—something I had never really felt at home or even within myself. Having someone see something in me that I didn’t always see in myself made a difference.

Being part of Head Start also showed me that these services are not only for the children. Head Start supports the adults and the entire family. It gives parents opportunities, resources, encouragement, and support while their children are being cared for, learning, and developing.

That is why seeing that the Head Start program could potentially close or have its funding cut saddens me. I think about another mother who may be where I once was, with dreams and aspirations of one day earning a college degree and creating a better future for herself and her children. She may just need an opportunity, someone to support her, or someone to believe in her. Cutting these services is not only cutting a program—it is cutting services to these children, to these adults, and to those dreams.

I would hate to see that support go away for our future generations. There will always be another parent trying to work, another mother doing homework late at night while holding her baby, and another person who has dreams but may not yet believe those dreams are possible. I hope Head Start can continue to be a place that gives children and families the support and opportunities they need to grow.

What I appreciated most about Head Start was having the opportunity to see the program from both perspectives—as a parent and later through the apprenticeship program. As a parent, seeing how genuinely the teachers and staff cared for the children beyond just their education gave me peace of mind. They paid attention to each child’s individual needs and development. If a child needed additional support or special education services, Head Start helped provide families with resources and guidance on where to go and how to get their child the help they needed.

As a parent, it can be overwhelming when you don’t know where to start or who to ask for help. Having people there to guide parents through that process can make such a difference. To me, that showed that Head Start wasn’t only there to educate our children—they were there to support the whole family.

Families should consider Head Start because it is so much more than childcare or school. It supports the whole family. Children are given opportunities to learn, socialize, build independence, and prepare for their future, while parents are also connected to resources and support. From my own experience, Head Start opened doors for my children and eventually opened doors for me too. You never know how much one opportunity or one person believing in you can change the direction of a family’s life.