More about me & my career path...

I was raised in Ionia, MI. I am the oldest of five children. We were privileged to have many acres of land to grow on. Some of our land was dedicated to farming and another portion to auto mechanics. I learned many things from feeding our animals and helping my dad fix vehicles. I think my home is where my passion for learning started. My passion continued to develop at Palo Community Schools where I attended grades 2-8.

Palo is a very unique school. The whole school had under two hundred students while I was attending and each grade had on class and one teacher. This provided a chance to really make strong connections with fellow students and the teachers. You knew that they cared about you. As, I grew older I continued to reflect on my education at Palo Community Schools. I attended two very large high schools and found it hard to make valuable connections with faculty and staff of the schools.

 Directly out of high school, I attended Grand Valley State University. I initially entered without knowing what I wanted to be when I "grew up." I took several classes before I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I chose to get my license in Elementary Education. I want to work with middle school students and possibly students in alternative education programs. I have found the Elementary Education Preparatory classes helpful in understanding the framework and foundations that students need to have in place before going on to high school.

So far, I have been working in the non-profit/public administration area for 2 years. I work for a community based organization that receives both local/ private and federal funding. I assist area youth to prepare for the GED tests and provide a community location for a high school credit recovery program for high school students. I have been struggling with my career for various reasons.

I don't like the current political/structural hierarchy of education and the effects it has had on people's perception, expectations, or value of a teacher. I am not sure I want to be a part of the evolution of education while being a new teacher. Therefore, I have NOT actively searched for "traditional" teaching positions. I would feel too vulnerable. I could expand on this, but I may leave that for another post.

In preparing students for the GED, I have lost a lot of my passion for creating engaging educational opportunities. I am simply, teaching to the test. That's all I can do because I work with a very transient population. I have considered exploring ways to change the program from computer-based, independent self-paced learning, but because of the wide range of learners who begin at such various dates, this task is too daunting to tackle. It would be the equivalent to a paradigm shift. I am not confident that I can inspire such great change in a geographical area that does not value a teacher.

Those I would say are the two most significant reasons for my hesitancy to begin teaching. There aren't schools like Palo anymore. Palo actually closed its doors at the end of last summer. Their last school year was 2012-2013. It's depressing.

I am not sure how to "make a difference."

Leaving on a jet plane...

Two Weeks and Five days!!

Studying Abroad

So, I applied in December 2009 for the opportunity to study abroad for the spring semester in Maastricht, Netherlands. I found out the second week of January that I would be going. Since it was so surreal to me to graduate from high school, and then even more astonishing to be accepted at Grand Valley State University, I have been ecstatic to have this opportunity. And the full effect has yet to fit me. I have my passport, travel insurance, the fight schedules, and I still feel blocked, I think that would be the right word to describe how I am feeling, from the full range of emotions that this opportunity should provide. I think I have just a little longer before the wall falls, and I am hit with the full impact.

Today we have our first mandatory informational meeting, so everyone that will be going will be there. I believe there are 16 other GVSU students who will be led by 2 GVSU faculty members, Pat Bloome and Laura VanderBroek. As of right now, I know we will be staying in the International Dorms at the University of Maastricht. I also know we have some sort of role in the local grade schools there, I am thinking we will be tutoring for the English Language. I am hoping to work with at least fifth graders, if not middle school.

Learning and Teaching

SO it's my senior year, definitely not my last year but close, and I am just feeling like I have it figured out. BUT, if there is anything I have learned from studying the English language it's this: There is always an exception. And really it holds so much truth and meaning for my life all around. I may feel like I am adjusting to the rigor of college studies, but as my usual self, I continue to question my ability to excel in the ART of teaching. I have been working with two students this semester and it has proved to me how much will be expected of me as a teacher. It scares me because I know the retention rate of new teachers is low and I don't want to forget during my first years any of the small and large reasons for choosing this profession. I know it will take me a while to get into the swing of things and figure out the class will run. An each time I get a new class I will be better at figuring it out. I just hope it doesn't take too long. I want to figure it out before I become the stark-raving, screaming, ornery teacher (like the ones I have run across recently).

A New Kind of Senior Year

So I was reading a status comment someone had left on FaceBook. They were talking about having to soak up all the fun now and stop complaining about the hard work because it was their last year before the real world. I realized I don't have to feel that way because I will be here another four semesters. I will graduate in December of 2011. You know what? I am not sad about being here longer. I also remember over hearing someone's phone conversation on the Rapid bus during my sophomore year. It was rainy that day I remember and I just finished classes for the day and was heading back home. He too was saying how he had to soak it all up now. I am assuming he was a senior. But he also was saying how "once you have it figured out, your done." At the time I was having a hard time with my classes. I was sick of all the work without seeing any benefits. BUt now I appreciate his observation, for it is true. I am just figuring this whole college thing out, and can't imagine trying to rush out of here. Between learning how to study, being in classes and learning things that I am passionate about, I am glad it is not ending so soon. I feel like I finally have a hold on things. I have four semesters to further develop my passion of education and teaching. I have that chance to keep good grades and invest in opportunities that will be beneficial to me when I get into the field.