Final thoughts from the outgoing student representative. (Student Slant).

With this column, I complete my two-year term as the Student Representative of ACEI. As always, saying "goodbye" is difficult. But I know that even though my term has expired, I will not be saying farewell to ACEI. This association cares about children and their education more than anything else, and so it is like a family to me.

I remember writing my very first Student Slant column for the Fall 2000 issue of the ACEI Exchange. I remember being anxious to start my work with the Executive Board and with members of the association--especially the student members.

As Student Representative, I had the opportunity to assist in conference preparations and student presentations, recruit new student members, and contribute articles to the ACEI Exchange and the Student Connection. During the conferences, it was wonderful to see the student members join our Student Committee and get excited about the opportunities within ACEI. It was always fun to watch the groups of students do their presentations at the Student Make-n-Take Sessions and feel like practicing professionals!

At the 2002 Conference, our committee planned a new session in which beginning teachers shared their experiences with the students, from preparing their portfolio and job hunting to surviving their first year of teaching. Our intent was to help prepare future teachers with their careers. I would like to thank all the presenters and committee members for their hard work before and during the conferences.

Joining ACEI opens up a window of opportunity to everybody, including the student members. Students can receive an award-winning professional journal, Childhood Education, six times a year, publish their experiences and ideas in the Student Connection newsletter, and present at conferences in the Student Make-n-Take, Beginning Teachers Roundtable, and/or the Hall of Excellence sessions. As part of the Student Committee, they can build the leadership skills necessary for our profession.

ACEI strongly supports student members by offering two professional awards: the Elizabeth Breathwaite Student Leadership Award and the Presidents' Council Award. The recognition is gratifying and the monetary support helps student members attend the annual international conferences. ACEI also recognizes that the future of the association lies in the student members' hands. They will be the ones who will take over and lead the organization into the future--hopefully for many, many years to come.

I would like to thank the Executive Board and the Headquarters Staff for their hard work throughout the years to keep this organization going and "to promote the inherent rights, education, and well-being of all children in the home, school, and community" (ACEI Constitution, Article II). I would also like to welcome Aaron Parsons, the new Student Representative of ACEI. I wish him lots of success and I am very confident that he will network with and represent the interests of the student members to the highest degree!

--Judit Szente, Student Representative