Author: Aruna Gilbert, Chief Program and Policy Officer 

Sitting here watching my daughter navigate college applications, my mind keeps going back to her VPK classroom days. Was it really just yesterday that I was worried about whether she could write her name, or if she would make friends during circle time? Now she's writing and rewriting essays about her leadership experiences and future dreams, and I'm struck by how those early VPK learning moments laid foundations I never fully appreciated at the time.
 
Gosh, I can remember questioning whether Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) would make a real difference. The program had only been in place a few years and not much research had been done on it because Florida was one of the first states to implement universal VPK. Sure, it was free, which helped our family out financially, but would those three hours really matter? Looking back from the vantage point of college applications, I can trace so many of her strengths to that pivotal year. The confidence she shows in her college interviews? It started with taking her first tooth she lost to present during "show and tell." Her ability to work independently on these applications? I see echoes of the self-directed learning centers in her VPK classroom. Even her essay-writing skills grew from those first exciting moments of realizing she could turn her thoughts into words on paper.

Parents of little ones: I know you're deep in the world of tiny chairs, tantrums, and finger paint right now. You might be wondering if all these early learning experiences really matter in the long run. From my view on the other side - they matter more than we can envision. When your child's VPK teacher talks about developing executive function skills, they're not just using fancy terms - they're describing the exact abilities your child will need to manage college applications, job interviews, and adult life.
 
The innovation in early learning since my daughter's VPK days amazes me. Today's programs incorporate technology, neuroscience research, and teaching methods we barely knew then. But the core remains the same - creating safe spaces for children to discover who they are as learners and individuals. My daughter's VPK program gave her more than academic readiness; it gave her a foundation of curiosity and confidence that's carrying her through these college applications.
 
To parents starting the VPK journey: treasure these moments, even the chaotic ones. Take pictures of the finger paintings, save the squiggly first attempts at writing their name, and celebrate the small victories. Before you know it, you'll be sitting where I am, watching your child map out their future, seeing echoes of those early learning days in every confident decision they make.
 
The time between VPK and college applications moves at light speed, but those early experiences create ripples that carry forward in ways you'd never expect. That finger-painting physicist or block-building architect in your child's VPK class isn't just playing - they're laying the groundwork for who they'll become. And trust me, you'll blink, and suddenly they'll be showing you their college essay, and you'll see traces of that VPK child in every word they write.
 
Your child's future starts in those early learning moments. It may not look like much - just songs, stories, “shapey" dance parties, and playtime - but you're watching the foundation of their future take shape, one building block at a time.
 
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go help my daughter decide which picture to include in her college application - though personally, I'm partial to the one of her VPK graduation, gap-toothed smile and all. Some milestones stay precious forever.