Hi everyone, my name is Angela Jarvis, and this is my ninth MET course. I’m also taking ETEC 540, which makes this my final term in the program! I currently teach PE, Career Education, Math, and Philanthropy at a high school in beautiful Port Moody, B.C., where I’ve been teaching for 23 years. I live in Langley with my husband and three boys. In the photo above, you’ll see me with two of my boys, my husband, my niece, and my dad on an epic adventure to Lynn Canyon, one of my favorite days this summer.
Outside of teaching, my second job is being a chauffeur, as most of my free time is spent driving my kids from one activity to another. I also coach soccer and hockey, so my days are full. On weekends, I love being outside, whether I’m watching my kids play sports or doing something fun as a family. I also really value quiet, alone time when I can get it, usually with a good book or a great movie.
I joined the fanny pack trend a few years ago, and I like this one because it holds so much. Not everything pictured is a true ‘need,’ but they’re all things I reach for often. The items included are:
- Small wallet
- A notepad
- A protein bar
- Receipts
- Sunglasses
- Glasses
- iPhone
- My work keys
- Car key
- Sunscreen
- A pen
- Chapstick
- Travel Uno
I use my wallet mostly for payments, memberships, and reward cards, plus a few random cards I rarely touch but still keep. My notepad is for quick notes when I don’t feel like using my phone. I carry a protein bar because busy days make me forget to eat, and I’m not great at clearing receipts so they pile up. Sunglasses and glasses are always with me since I’m often moving between different spaces. My car keys and work keys are essential for getting around and working at school. I keep sunscreen for myself and my kids, a pen for quick notes or forms, and ChapStick for lip health. And finally, Travel Uno is my go-to for keeping us entertained when we have time to kill between events.
When I think of “texts,” I usually imagine books, articles, or messages, but if my items listed above communicate meaning about who I am I suppose they are “texts” as well. Several of the items in my bag tell a story about my routines and priorities. My notepad and pen show that I like to write things down and stay organized, while my receipts and small wallet reveal where I shop and how I spend my money. My protein bar, sunscreen, and ChapStick point to how I care about health and looking after myself, and my work keys and car key highlight the responsibilities and spaces I move between each day. Lastly my Travel Uno game communicates something important, it shows that I value fun and connection with others. When I look at these items together, they do tell a story about my life without me saying a single word.
My cell phone is the most obvious example of text technology in my bag. It is a central hub that blends my personal, academic, and professional communication. I rely on this item more than any other object in my bag. I use my iPhone to engage with language and communication in fast, flexible, and multi-layered ways. Through texting, I often use shortened words, emojis, and images to express meaning and emotion quickly. Social media apps allow me to share ideas with a broad audience while also shaping how I present myself. Even things like my camera roll, voice notes, or WhatsApp are texts. These apps all show in the moment if I’m more into communicating with pictures, talking, or writing.
For me, there’s a strong connection between the narrative of what’s in my bag and the story told by the image of my family. The items in my bag highlight key themes in my life: I value health, organization, and responsibility, while also prioritizing family, fun, and connection. The family photo captures all of these things; it’s about making new healthy memories responsibly with the people I care most about while doing something we love. My bag looked very different 15 years ago; back then it was a giant diaper bag filled with anything a new mom might need at any moment. Interestingly, from what I remember, that diaper bag also contained almost all the same items I carry now in my fanny pack, except for the work keys, since I was on maternity leave! Together, both the photo and the bag serve as texts that tell the story of who I am, how I’ve grown, and what matters most to me.