As I finish up my first semester in the education program, and realizing many of my collegues are student teaching in the fall, has made me think about my student teaching. Of course I am not doing mine until Spring of 2011. But non the less I'll get there! The traditional student goes back home and teaches in a district close to them. At first, I was so excited to go back home to finish off my student teaching, but the more I think about it, I feel like there is another better opportunity awaiting me. Another option for us student teachers is to go abroad! With my love of traveling, experiences new people, places and cultures, I feel like this is my best fit option. Traveling while in college can be an experience of a life time as well as more financially do able.
My good friend Thomas has just come back home after a semester in Africa and even though I have not heard his stories yet, but I know I will, just looking through his pictures has made me jealous! I have always wanted to study abroad and I think I just need to plunge in and like Nike says "just do it". I would be going to Germany as our program sends their students to Japan or Germany. I want to go to Germany because I have always wanted to go to Europe and there are so many countries there I want to visit. I would force myself to go to Sweden, which won't take much forcing, cause I've always wanted to go there. I want to see my ancestor's farm, the one that is named after Grandpa's name. Of course it's not named after Grandpa, but he got his name from teh ancestor's who lived at the farm long ago. I have seen pictures of Sweden and our farm, and I get excited just thinking of the possibility of seeing it for myself. My Swedish heritage is important to me and so what better time to learn more about it while in college doing my student teaching in Germany! While in Europe, I want to visit other countries as well. This will mean going out by myself and just seeing what I can see and learning what I can learn about their history and culture. This experience will force me to grow as a learner as well as a person.
In Germany, I will be living on a U.S. military base teaching American students who are stationed over there. So I won't be livining in a random town with a random family. I will be safe being protected by our men in uniform. Teaching over there will give me a new teaching experience as well. I feel like I have a good sense of how education is run over here in the U.S. So I want to get out and experience how we run our schools for our children who are stationed with families overseas. I also want to visit other schools in Europe and see how they run their schools. I believe that this will help me become a better teacher with the understanding that there is more than one way to teach. And even though it's different it can still be effective.
Financially, I pay WSU tuition and just need money for living over there and the airfare. It'll be about a semester long, so expensive, but well worth it. This experience will also help me grow as an individual as I will be in a foriegn place without family for six months! Anyways, just some recent thoughts, I still have to talk to my family about the possibilities. It's just been on my mind this week, so I thought I'd put my thoughts into words.
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Education
My dad always told me that "school is your job". This is so true. While students don't get paid with money, they get paid with knowledge. Yea, this can sound cheesy but it's true. The knowledge and experiences that a student gains at school, helps mold them into the person who will become our presidents, CEO's, doctors, plumbers, engineers, teachers, lawyers, the list is never ending.
It has been said, and I'll say it again, education is a privilage. Ever think about those in a 3rd world country who have to work 16 hours a day their whole life never knowing what school really is? Shoot, think about those students who live here in the U.S. who need to work and go to school? How do they do it all? Then there are the "slacker" kids who are always complaining about this that and the other. They have nothing to complain about. They are in school to better themselves, and they don't even realize it. I realize that the education system is not perfect by any means. But it sure beats sitting on your ass all day doing nothing.
I don't understand those people who are able to sit and do nothing all day, day in and day out. God has given you this gift of life and so to not use it is in lack of better words dumb. Engaging yourself with other people, environments, and situations makes you grow into a more rounded person. When a student is at school, they encounter all of this and more. A student not only learns the textbook information, or as we're learning in class, the information that allows them to meet the ridiculous testing standards, they learn real life skills, probably without even knowing it.
I know this blog has gone a different direction, I don't really know my point, just random I guess. But to sum my thouhgts up in a general statement...
We only live once, so we need to make it worthwhile! We need to keep ourselves engaged-intellectually, emotionally, and physically, don't take this for granted, like education, help each other out, do our best, and never give up!
It has been said, and I'll say it again, education is a privilage. Ever think about those in a 3rd world country who have to work 16 hours a day their whole life never knowing what school really is? Shoot, think about those students who live here in the U.S. who need to work and go to school? How do they do it all? Then there are the "slacker" kids who are always complaining about this that and the other. They have nothing to complain about. They are in school to better themselves, and they don't even realize it. I realize that the education system is not perfect by any means. But it sure beats sitting on your ass all day doing nothing.
I don't understand those people who are able to sit and do nothing all day, day in and day out. God has given you this gift of life and so to not use it is in lack of better words dumb. Engaging yourself with other people, environments, and situations makes you grow into a more rounded person. When a student is at school, they encounter all of this and more. A student not only learns the textbook information, or as we're learning in class, the information that allows them to meet the ridiculous testing standards, they learn real life skills, probably without even knowing it.
I know this blog has gone a different direction, I don't really know my point, just random I guess. But to sum my thouhgts up in a general statement...
We only live once, so we need to make it worthwhile! We need to keep ourselves engaged-intellectually, emotionally, and physically, don't take this for granted, like education, help each other out, do our best, and never give up!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Family
I was on my Myspace checking out an old blog I wrote right after my Papaw passed away. While reading it I realized how much I miss him. It reminds me just how important family is to me. They are the ones who helped me shape me into the person who I am. My family is also what keeps me going when I'm unmotivated or going through a rough time. When I don't want to continue with my homework, like right now, I always think of Papaw, Memaw, my cousins-Bill, Mike and Rob, and of course my parents, and Logan, but especially Papaw and Memaw, and know that they're watching me. I don't want to disappoint them, so I know that I must keep truckin on. We, they're grandchildren, were their pride and joy and the last thing in the world I want to do is to disappoint my family.
At the end of the day, no matter how bad my day was, or who I'm unhappy with, I always know that I have my family there for me. Of course I have friends too, don't get me wrong. But it is my family who has been there from the start, and for me that start was rough. Three months in the hospital and a hard first few years couldn't have been possible without the support and love of my family, especially my parents. As I write this Mom and Dad are in London, as Dad had to go for work. Mom, obviously didn't have to go. But who wouldn't turn down a trip to London! They also deserve a trip across the world together. They never did go on vacations just the 2 of them when raising our family. And now that Kell and I are out of the house, it is definetly their time to enjoy life for all its worth! They deserve it, 24 years of raising a family is hard work, especially between Kell and I (for different reasons :)).
While my family is small, 5 cousins in all, no step-siblings, I wouldn't ask for it any other way. It is all I've known and it's great. I feel close to my parents, sister, nephew, niece, all my cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. I don't think everyone can say that about their family. Now after writing this, I realize that I fall short of keeping in touch with all of my family. So starting now, i am going to try to keep in touch better. Even if it's a short email or call, it's worth it. Because all in all, no one knows when it will be our last day!
Yea, that's all. I'm just thankful for a wonderful family who I know i can always call on! I love you!
At the end of the day, no matter how bad my day was, or who I'm unhappy with, I always know that I have my family there for me. Of course I have friends too, don't get me wrong. But it is my family who has been there from the start, and for me that start was rough. Three months in the hospital and a hard first few years couldn't have been possible without the support and love of my family, especially my parents. As I write this Mom and Dad are in London, as Dad had to go for work. Mom, obviously didn't have to go. But who wouldn't turn down a trip to London! They also deserve a trip across the world together. They never did go on vacations just the 2 of them when raising our family. And now that Kell and I are out of the house, it is definetly their time to enjoy life for all its worth! They deserve it, 24 years of raising a family is hard work, especially between Kell and I (for different reasons :)).
While my family is small, 5 cousins in all, no step-siblings, I wouldn't ask for it any other way. It is all I've known and it's great. I feel close to my parents, sister, nephew, niece, all my cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. I don't think everyone can say that about their family. Now after writing this, I realize that I fall short of keeping in touch with all of my family. So starting now, i am going to try to keep in touch better. Even if it's a short email or call, it's worth it. Because all in all, no one knows when it will be our last day!
Yea, that's all. I'm just thankful for a wonderful family who I know i can always call on! I love you!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
George Carlin's Words of Wisdom
Today I had to present a Cultural piece in my T&L Cultural and Context class. This cultural piece had to be meaningful to me and somehow represents who I am. I chose to present an email forward I've received. It's George Carlin and what I think of his Words of Wisdom. I like this piece because it's not only a great message but it's a great reminder for all of us. It helps me keep things in perspective and reminds me of why we are all here. So often I find myself running around with my head chopped off, not realizing that it's not the business that matters, but it's the people who you have given time to and who you personally touch taht matters. I haven't watched George Carlin before, but I am not intrigued to go on the wonderful site of youtube and look him up. I've heard he's great! So here is his standup piece:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller bulidings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees, but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too litttle, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced out values. We talk to much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new nighbor. We conquered outerspace but not innerspace.
We've done larger thing, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one nightstands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose to either share this insight or ignore it.
Remember: Spend some time wtih your lobed ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to teh one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measure by the number of breath we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller bulidings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees, but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too litttle, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced out values. We talk to much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new nighbor. We conquered outerspace but not innerspace.
We've done larger thing, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one nightstands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose to either share this insight or ignore it.
Remember: Spend some time wtih your lobed ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to teh one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measure by the number of breath we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Round 3
I am in my second week of school and am realizing how I am going to survive and enjoy this year. This may be more of a lecture for myself as for what I need to do to stay sane. One thing for me is to make sure I actually get up to workout. To some this may seem like a petty little "thing" to do, but for me it can be a lifeline. It helps me relieve stress and helps me function emotionally, physically, and mentally. The hardest part for me is just turning off the alarm and getting my more than able body OUT of bed. Once I'm out, I'm ok. Weird how just a little action is so hard to do, like getting out of bed is. Anyways... another thing I need to do this semester, is make sure I am ORGANIZED. While I am naturally an organized person, I get stressed out if I feel I don't know when or where I am suppose to be or when things are due. So this weekend, I plan to make sure I plan out my semester with all projects and tests including time to study or work on those classes. Once I do these two things and continue to, I feel like this semester, while busy, will go smoothly. Well as smoothly as it can for 2 jobs and school. I'm also going to need to make sure I make time for friends.
Already this year I have made new friends. I've met these friends through a mutual friend. I love meeting new people and having more friends. It's nice to have another group of fun peopel to hang out with. This group of guys is fun and I'm excited to hang out with them more and get to know them better. It doesn't mean that I don't want to grow apart from my old friends, not at all, but I am branching out more. By branching out more, I have realized that I'll need to make more of an effort to keep in touch and hang out with my old friends! This is hard as we all grow and go in different directions, even if we are on the same college campus.
The more people I meet and hang out with the more I realize what traits are important for friends, or that potential "someone" to have. I understand that drinking is fun, but I need to have people who seem to have more interests than just drinking and events that revolve around drinking. I also like to see people involved, whether in the school, community, or work. This shows me that they have more interests and that being involved is important to them. Usually this means that the person cares about making a difference in some shape or form. For me, this trait is important, especially because I am all about trying to make a difference in whatever way that may be, and to always be helping others. There are plenty of other things that I look for when thinking of a potential "someone", but I don't like to think of a person who fits my "checklist", but rather one who has traits that I like and others that I can deal with. Of course some traits and personality characteristics are more important than others such as what I previously mentioned.
I'm not sure where this all came from, but it's something that I've been thinking about as I am now 21, 3rd year in college, and am realizing just how different each person can be.
As of now, there is no "someone", but I am keeping my options open and just focusing on meeting more people and making more friends. And from there, I'll see what God has in store for me!
Already this year I have made new friends. I've met these friends through a mutual friend. I love meeting new people and having more friends. It's nice to have another group of fun peopel to hang out with. This group of guys is fun and I'm excited to hang out with them more and get to know them better. It doesn't mean that I don't want to grow apart from my old friends, not at all, but I am branching out more. By branching out more, I have realized that I'll need to make more of an effort to keep in touch and hang out with my old friends! This is hard as we all grow and go in different directions, even if we are on the same college campus.
The more people I meet and hang out with the more I realize what traits are important for friends, or that potential "someone" to have. I understand that drinking is fun, but I need to have people who seem to have more interests than just drinking and events that revolve around drinking. I also like to see people involved, whether in the school, community, or work. This shows me that they have more interests and that being involved is important to them. Usually this means that the person cares about making a difference in some shape or form. For me, this trait is important, especially because I am all about trying to make a difference in whatever way that may be, and to always be helping others. There are plenty of other things that I look for when thinking of a potential "someone", but I don't like to think of a person who fits my "checklist", but rather one who has traits that I like and others that I can deal with. Of course some traits and personality characteristics are more important than others such as what I previously mentioned.
I'm not sure where this all came from, but it's something that I've been thinking about as I am now 21, 3rd year in college, and am realizing just how different each person can be.
As of now, there is no "someone", but I am keeping my options open and just focusing on meeting more people and making more friends. And from there, I'll see what God has in store for me!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Careers
Throughout my time here at WSU I have always been thinking of the grand ol' question, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" To be honest, this answer is always changing. I'll get an idea and for a lil while, maybe only a day or month, I "swear" it's what I want to do. Fortunately, I have been able to get into some fields and have practical experience of some of those careers. One of my greatest experiences was working in the Athletic Training program here at WSU. When I first got into the program, I was stoked, confident that I had found my career path for good. Once I got into it and after some serious thinking and evaluating, I learned that Athletic Training is not the career path for me. It was nothing personal, I just realized I wanted more interaction with kids, fitness, and helping people better themselves by staying active for life.
So I have determined myself a health and fitness education major and minoring in Spanish and psychology. This will allow me to become a PE teacher. I have been able to do a 6 week teaching practicum observing middle school PE with my mom last May. This experience has taught me that while I want to teach and I have a passion for students and teaching them about health and wellness, I also want a different beginning career while I'm still young. They will always need teachers, so I want to explore what else is out there first. This brings me to some of my most recent epiphanies/ life plans.
I have always wanted to study abroad but because of expenses and time, I have not had the chance to do it. But it came to my attention last semester that I am able to do my student teaching abroad. I want to go to a Spanish speaking country, as I am minoring in Spanish. I was talking to my cousin who is in the Army, and he knows of a Navy base in Spain that he might be able to connect me with. I would go to the country, live on a US military base and teach American students. This experience would fulfill my passion to travel and experience new cultures. I am excited to learn more about this opportunity this semester.
As for my careers, I have been thinking about it this summer/ this past week and this is what I've come up with: since I love kids, staying fit and active, and having an active job, I think that working at a Parks and Rec place would be fun. I think it'd be great to head up sport clubs and fitness activities for kids in the communities. I want to be able to also teach/coach them as well. So what I am looking into a masters degree in Parks and Rec. This idea has come about on my own but also has been confirmed with my time working at the UREC. Granted I have only worked there a couple times, I have realized how much I like the environment. I want to get certified in Personal Training and as an Aerobic Instructor. The nice thing is that the UREC offers grants to pay for the classes and training.
So yeah, that's what I've come up in the last few months. Another job that I think I'd really like would be working with the Forest service repairing trails and such. This job would be during the summer. Nature and being outside in the woods, is another passion of mine. But I've heard that some of the WA state forest services are closing down, unfortunately. Nevertheless, it's something that I want to look into!
I know that some of these ideas seem random, but they're all related to my interests and passions. So we'll see what God has planned for me!
I have always wanted to study abroad but because of expenses and time, I have not had the chance to do it. But it came to my attention last semester that I am able to do my student teaching abroad. I want to go to a Spanish speaking country, as I am minoring in Spanish. I was talking to my cousin who is in the Army, and he knows of a Navy base in Spain that he might be able to connect me with. I would go to the country, live on a US military base and teach American students. This experience would fulfill my passion to travel and experience new cultures. I am excited to learn more about this opportunity this semester.
As for my careers, I have been thinking about it this summer/ this past week and this is what I've come up with: since I love kids, staying fit and active, and having an active job, I think that working at a Parks and Rec place would be fun. I think it'd be great to head up sport clubs and fitness activities for kids in the communities. I want to be able to also teach/coach them as well. So what I am looking into a masters degree in Parks and Rec. This idea has come about on my own but also has been confirmed with my time working at the UREC. Granted I have only worked there a couple times, I have realized how much I like the environment. I want to get certified in Personal Training and as an Aerobic Instructor. The nice thing is that the UREC offers grants to pay for the classes and training.
So yeah, that's what I've come up in the last few months. Another job that I think I'd really like would be working with the Forest service repairing trails and such. This job would be during the summer. Nature and being outside in the woods, is another passion of mine. But I've heard that some of the WA state forest services are closing down, unfortunately. Nevertheless, it's something that I want to look into!
I know that some of these ideas seem random, but they're all related to my interests and passions. So we'll see what God has planned for me!
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