ECE graduate educates and entertains

Christiane Martell is using her love of acting to entertain while she educates in her job as a registered early childhood educator (RECE) at the Bowmore Child Enrichment Centre (BCEC).

Martell, who graduated in July from the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, had a job waiting for her as soon as she graduated.

“I was very fortunate to find the job that I did,” said Martell. “I was actually hired just prior to the end of my last co-operative placement and began working the day after I finished my practicum.”

As an RECE, Martell’s general duties include planning and implementing programs for a group of 23 children; connecting with children and their families; and providing quality care and education, as well as maintaining a clean and safe environment.

“The best part of my job is easily working with the children,” said Martell. “Every day I end up in stitches over something they have said or done, and watching them grow into their own individual personalities is so fascinating to me. They never fail to surprise me and the wonderful part is that every child is unique and reacts with their surroundings differently, so I am always learning from them.”

Martell attributes her successful transition from student to educator to the faculty and training she received at Durham College.

“I have learned in my field that you truly need to love what you do in order to do it well and the faculty at Durham College taught me that,” said Martell.

The combination of hard work and dedication and expert guidance from Durham College’s ECE faculty has allowed Martell, who graduated with honours, to successfully combine her two passions: education and entertainment.

“I consider myself a talented educator and I owe my success to the faculty at Durham College,” Martell said.