Today we’d like to introduce you to Mia Gentry.
Mia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey began in a small cubicle at a pharmacy. One day, as I sat at my desk, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “There is something else for you.” Later, during prayer, I heard, “You will work for Me. You will see.”
After wrestling with that calling for some time, I finally gained clarity about what I was supposed to do. God instructed me to open a childcare center in my home, and that is exactly what I did. I operated that childcare center for two years. Eventually, so many families were trying to enroll their children that I realized I needed to find a larger building.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This journey has not been smooth in any way. In the beginning, there was so much I did not know about early childhood education. As a novice with very few resources or connections, the first four or five years were extremely difficult. I accumulated several violations while simply trying to learn and figure things out.
At times, I felt discouraged because I was often told what I was doing wrong, but I was rarely given guidance or strategies on how to do things correctly. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that growth often comes through challenges and persistence.
I have also struggled with finding the right teachers for my facility. Not everyone shares the same passion for creating a culture of kindness that I believe children deserve. Many people have been taught to talk at children instead of talking to children, and there is a huge difference between the two. Finding educators who truly understand that has been one of the greatest challenges along the way.
As you know, we’re big fans of Growing Minds Learning Center LLC. For our readers who may not be familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Growing Minds Learning Center LLC is an early care and education facility that serves children from six weeks old to five years old. We provide high-quality care and education for children and families in our community. We partner with organizations such as Quality Counts, ABC Quality, the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association, and South Carolina First Steps 4K to ensure that we continue providing excellent educational experiences and support for families.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
My childhood was interesting. During part of my childhood, I lived with my grandparents, and at other times I lived with my mother. I was flown back and forth between California, South Carolina, and even Arizona, so life was never very stable for me or my two brothers.
Despite that instability, I enjoyed my childhood. I didn’t fully understand what I lacked because I embraced and appreciated what I did have.
As a child, I knew that I loved God and wanted to serve Him. I loved looking up at the sky and watching the clouds move. I enjoyed solitude and spent much of my time entertaining myself. I remember making dollhouses out of paper bags, singing songs to myself, and pretending I was married to Michael Jackson. I also spent a lot of time watching the clouds drift across the sky while imagining what heaven might be like.
Pricing:
- I have a price list on my website.
- Infants $255
- 1-2 years-old $200
- 3-5 year-old &180
- After school $85
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gmlclcc.com
