Early Childhood Education Online: Rabia’s Journey with Ohio State

If you’re passionate about shaping young minds and considering a career in early childhood education, the online Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Development and Education could be the perfect starting point. Hear from Rabia Khan, a recent graduate who turned her passion into a fulfilling career. 

 Rabia’s story

A flexible, career-building program

Rabia Khan, an Early Childhood Educator at the A. Sophie Rogers Schoenbaum Family Center, chose Ohio State’s online associate degree because she wasn’t initially ready to commit to a four-year program. “I didn’t want to start a four-year degree and then drop out midway and feel disappointed. Once I started, honestly, I loved it so much that now I’ve started my bachelor’s in human development family sciences,” she shares. 

One of the biggest advantages of the program? Flexibility of online learning.

“Because it was totally asynchronous and online, it gave me a lot of flexibility. I thought it was going to be difficult since I’m a distant student, but the professors were only one email away.” 

From personal experience to professional growth

Having lived in Ohio for over a decade, Rabia was a stay-at-home mom before pursuing her degree. Her inspiration to enter early childhood education (ECE) came from personal experience: her son had special needs, and she saw firsthand the critical role that early childhood education plays in development.

“He had amazing teachers, when I would see that I really wanted to do that for someone else. That was my main motivation to do what I’m doing right now.” 

Through the program, Rabia developed a deep understanding of child development, language acquisition, and early learning strategies. “One of my absolute favorite courses was early childhood language and literacy development. It just amazed me how important that is, developing their language early on. You’re basically setting their foundation.” 

A degree that opens doors

Rabia credits her online associate degree with giving her the tools to apply her knowledge in real-world classroom settings.

“I had bits and pieces here and there, but when I started pursuing the degree, everything came together, and it turned my information into knowledge that I now implement into the classroom and at home” 

For those considering a future in pre-school education, she highly recommends the program. “If you’re passionate about it, this is the way to go. On its own it is a great way to start your professional career as a teacher, but if you want to build upon it and pursue your education, that’s another opportunity. It can open a lot of possibilities for you.” 

  Advance your early childhood education career with Ohio State Online

The online Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Development and Education at Ohio State provides a flexible, high-quality education that prepares students for meaningful careers in pre-school, daycare, and other early childhood education settings. Whether you’re looking to enter the ECE field or use this as a steppingstone to further your studies, this program can help you achieve your goals. 

Ready to take the next step? Contact an Enrollment Advisor for more information about how Ohio State Online can help you launch your career in early childhood education.