Category: College

Categories
College Personal Self Discovery

Trees, mountains, water.

This morning I woke up to a gold full moon, lying low on the horizon. Took the ferry across from Langdale to Horseshoe bay, and the got onto the bus as the sun rose. So peaceful. Last evening we hiked up Soames Hill and watched the sun set. On our right was a brilliant golden sun dipping behind the trees and mountains; on our left was a pale, almost translucent moon coming up. The forest trail down felt so safe. Comfortable. Familiar, though it was my first visit.

I’m going to miss the daily routine of the teacher’s life, which I got to experience the past few days. It felt so right. Stef and I went with her mom to work every day, and I got the opportunity to drop in on several different grades in the school. I felt exhausted at the end of each day, but wonderfully so. I know I definitely will love working in the field of education, with others who share my passion. I guess it’s something I’m really looking forward to, anyway. Two days ago we got to attend a teacher’s workshop, and there we had many insightful conversations with experienced teachers all over the coast. Right now, I get to look forward to my B.Ed program. Stef and I were talking about our (near?) future when we can attend teacher’s workshops together. It’s so meaningful to share our passion, especially since we were with each other in Uganda.

I love living in BC. Growing up in the city, I never got to experience the comforts of “BC Living”: surrounded by trees, mountainscapes, ocean bodies. I guess I get glimpses of the North Shore from various beaches and points in the city. It’s totally different being away from the city. I love it.

It was still really comforting to bus into downtown this morning– I am a city girl at heart. Pulling into UBC made me feel proud; I love this community of students, I feel at home here.

Categories
College Personal

softly commanding

There is a lot of satisfaction in commanding the attention of my students, not for myself, but for them as my students. I am not teaching to hear my voice. I want them to listen, because what I say is directed to guide them. I quiet my voice, acknowledge their points of distraction, and remind them that they are only in the class for an hour twice a week (they can be distracted so many other hours of the week).

The core of my teaching philosophy is that every student has the potential to do really well. I truly, honestly, passionately believe this. They just need a perfect balance of  diligence, patience, confidence, and humbleness within themselves. As a teacher, I try my best to recognize their individual sparks, or unique potentials, to facilitating a thoughtful learning environment by accommodating the different balances of each student. Every class is a different dynamic, and every lesson differs in mood. Every student learns differently according to those variables. My favourite part of my job is witnessing the learning that happens: in the lesson itself, as well as throughout a term. It’s so fulfilling to see a student rise up to their potential, and interesting to see how they do that in response/under influence from the different dynamics and moods of each lesson.

I am so looking forward to starting my B.Ed application. Education is so important, in my opinion.

Categories
College Personal Self Discovery

I spy with my little eyes

My eyes are drawn to

the pile of CD’s, Surround by Jon Bauer/ Passion Awakening Concert/ Reconnect Me (talk by a youth pastor) and books of short essays, On Friendship by Montaigne/ The Wars by Timothy Findley,
the order in which they’re stacked is a bitter reflection of what importance they hold in my life.
though the fact that they are anywhere on my desk at all should be
an indication/proof?/meaning/ a reminder
that I am who I am because I’ve lived through all those phases;

a corner in my room where a pile of what looks like junk sits, since August 17
They are a collection of fresh batteries, travel- sized floss, pencils and pens, small ziploc bags even, select postcards,
my emergency things when I was abroad, in Africa, Europe, in the air flying between places
Now, they are objects useless in relation to what sorts of things I need now.
Which are: books, ipod and its charger, blackberry and its charger, box of makeup, plate of jewelry, ID’s, usb’s, my agenda, post-it notes,
so all these things, along with the assignments already accumulating from the start of this school term, September 8, have pushed almost everything
related to Africa and my experience there
aside. Life is much more fast- paced here.
To which my best friend laughed at, she who started her new life in New York; her life even more speeding.
She misses the Vancouver pace, which I also appreciate as the perfect rhythm compared to cities around the world. But, I crave the reality and earthliness of the village. The sounds (or lack thereof) and the stars, and the backdrop of fiery sunsets;

my textbook on cultural psychology,
which is teaching me how it is that researchers study
the interactions which I’ve experienced this past summer.
It’s tedious, reading the operationalized concepts reiterated over and over and over again.
I miss just doing;

the countless sweaters on my floor: seven.
six scarves, four pairs of legwarmers;
I love this season because these are my favourite wardrobe items;

my computer screen, which has been the center of my attention
ever since I got back from Africa
which is kind of pathetic.
I set time apart so that I get back in touch through words (reading, writing)
what would I do without literature? It’s shaped who I am.
I am currently reading: Alias Grace (Atwood), An Imperfect Offering (Orbinski), A Complicated Kindness (Toew), The Black Book (Pamuk), somehow all at once. It depends on what mood I’m in.
Too bad I’ve only been reading Personality perspectives, Abnormal Psychology, Cultural Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Guide to International Development, lately. #lifeofastudent
Also,ebooks are pathetic;

that it is 2:01am
04/10/2011
my internet is at four bars.
apparently these are important things to know.

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