I am a second year student in the Early Childhood Education Program. As a woman of color who has attended Predominantly White Institutions across my school career, starting in preschool and now in college, I have seen and experienced the disparities that marginalized students are faced with in these institutions. When I was asked to participate in this research project, I saw a clear opportunity to support fellow early-program students.

I am in my final year at UWM majoring in Early Childhood Special Education with a minor in ESL and Bilingual. Growing up I was a translator, I translated school papers that were sent home, I translated phone calls, doctor appointments, conferences, etc. So I know what a lot of bilingual students who come from first-generation families have felt. We are not only our parent's voice but our own and the voice of our future students. As a future educator, UWM has provided me with the resources and support that I need to become an educated teacher. So when asked to participate in this research project, I saw it as an opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences, and learn more.

Our research study, Navigating Spaces in Higher Ed, began out of a common recognition from our research team that the transition to college is a difficult one, for any new student. These difficulties can be heightened for new students who are also part of marginalized communities, or those who are commonly underrepresented in higher education (students of color and first-generation students), and we wanted to create supports for navigating the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program.

We started this research study with the goals of promoting and supporting ECE pre-service teachers in higher education spaces. By examining early-program students' experiences within the ECE program and focusing on collaborating with traditionally underrepresented pre-service teachers, we hope to bring new supports to the program that are responsive to and inclusive of all ECE students.

I am entering my final year in the Early Childhood Education program. All my life, I went to schools in Milwaukee, south side neighborhoods that were filled with students who look and speak like me. Entering college, I was not prepared to navigate the spaces I was being introduced to and felt overwhelmingly underrepresented in my educational environments. My experiences throughout my time in school and in the ECE program have shown me how essential teachers of color are to our education system, especially in Milwaukee. This is why I believe Navigating Spaces in Higher Ed is such an important project for the ECE program.