“From a child who was once supported to someone who now supports others.” This journey describes Jing-Yi Tu, a 21-year-old senior in the Department of Early Childhood Education at National University of Tainan (NUTN). Originally from Taitung, she first joined the Firefly Children's Reading Program during a summer camp in third grade. Organized as a charitable initiative by Taiwan Power Company and the One Grain of Wheat Social Welfare and Charity Foundation, the program introduced her to Teacher Jenny and provided academic support and companionship throughout the summer before fourth grade. Years later, Tu returned to the same after-school tutoring center, this time as a reading tutor and volunteer, bringing with her the knowledge and practical experience she had gained at university.
As a child, Tu was shy and hesitant to speak up or express her thoughts. The tutoring center became more than a place to complete schoolwork; it was an important environment in which she grew in confidence and learned to interact and cooperate with others. Teachers patiently guided children through their assignments, breaking difficult questions into manageable steps. In the center’s mixed-age learning environment, Tu experienced both receiving care from older students and helping younger children. These early experiences taught her the value of companionship, mutual support, and learning together.
After entering NUTN’s Department of Early Childhood Education, Tu developed a foundation in early childhood education through coursework, kindergarten internships, professional talks, and part-time work in the department office. These experiences helped her strengthen her communication, teamwork, activity planning, administrative, organizational, and problem-solving skills, as well as her ability to interact with young children. Looking back, she recognized how much she had changed—from someone who was reluctant to speak to someone more confident in communicating with others and taking on new challenges. She also learned how to apply her knowledge of child observation, individual needs, communication, and activity facilitation in real educational settings.
During two summer breaks at university, Tu returned to serve at the Firefly Children's Reading Program. Although the setting remained familiar, her role had changed. Once a child receiving help with homework, she now supported children with their summer assignments and learning activities. She also assisted with preparing questions, documenting activities, setting up equipment, and handling other tasks as needed.
When conflicts arose among the children, Tu learned to listen to each child's perspective, clarify what had happened, and help them express their feelings and resolve problems. By observing experienced teachers and drawing on the practical techniques she had learned during her university training, she gradually discovered how her academic studies could directly address children's needs. For her, early childhood education was no longer simply a subject to study, but a set of skills and values that could make a meaningful difference in children's lives.
This summer, Tu was invited to share her personal growth story at an event associated with Taiwan Power Company and the One Grain of Wheat Foundation. Standing before an audience and reflecting on her journey, she realized that the care a child receives can continue to shape their life for years to come, even influencing their future career choices.
Her journey from receiving support to supporting others has also strengthened her commitment to early childhood education. Tu hopes to become a kindergarten teacher who does more than teach knowledge—someone who understands children's needs, respects individual differences, listens with patience, and supports each child's development. To her, the Firefly Children's Reading Program is no longer merely a childhood memory; it is a formative experience that helped shape her path toward becoming an educator. By returning to the place where she once received encouragement, she is now passing that same care on to the next generation.
NUTN emphasizes that early childhood education involves more than professional knowledge. It also requires the ability to understand children, support their development, and respond to the needs of real educational settings. Tu's experience reflects a meaningful cycle in which education touches a life, and that life, in turn, gives back to education. Through coursework, internships, and diverse practical learning opportunities, NUTN's Department of Early Childhood Education encourages students to build professional skills, deepen their educational commitment, and become dedicated educators who turn what they learn into meaningful support for children's growth.