Here are some things I've been thinking about...
1. I can't wait to teach!
I just finished a TESL course and it made me ubber excited to become a teacher. It was so awesome to hear about everyone's passion to teach and the way people intend on doing that. I thinking putting the students as the centre of the classroom is the key. I mean it's about what the students are getting out of the class and the bonus is what the teacher learns from a class.
Also, I am volunteering at a very cool grade 7/8 school and I very much enjoy it. Just when I thought I had my mind made up that I wanted to teach grade 3s and 4s, one of my mentors from the first school I volunteered at suggested I try older grades to help me be absolutely certain I knew what stream in teacher's colleges I'm interested in. So I reluctantly gave it a shot and went to a grade 7/8 school. Three weeks into my time here, I've become more confused, because I do like this age group as well. I realized that a student is a student is a student, and that in all age groups you will have students who enjoy learning and some students who just find it difficult. And that no matter how old a student is, they are all special and I want to help all students learn.
So I'm pretty sure I will apply to the Junior/ Intermediate (grade 4-10) stream in the Bachelor of Education programs at several institutions. Any suggestions of which institution I should think about?
2. I am desperate to find a community for when I graduate.
In December I'll finally be done my undergraduate degree! This gives me a lot of mixed feelings. a) I'm excited to have some time to read for pleasure and not have assignments I have to worry about and b) I'm not sure if I'm ready to leave Grebel. Grebel has been a huge part of my growth as the people here have cared so much for me. They've grieved with me when I was grieving and they laughed with me when that's just what I needed. I thank God so much for this awesome experience! Because I'm leaving the Grebel Community, I feel it is neccessary that I connect with a community that I can contribute to and feel loved and cared for. I realize that Grebel is unique and other communities I may build will never be the same, as the people in a community is what makes the community and each experience is different.
Also, it's so sad to see that many of my close friends are moving away from me and I will never be surrounded by the same group of people again. As you can tell, I cherish past experiences so much and I need to learn to let experiences be great but not to dwell on the past. I need to be opened to knew and awesome experiences and I am so excited as to what they will be.
Anyway, these are just some of the things I've been thinking about and this procrastination has lasted long enough time to get back to reading for school (I just have to hang on till December:D)
Peace,
Kristen
