Brighter Future

In order to make progress and get what you want, you have to push towards those goals by putting in action and planning.

After reading my entire blog, I am pleased to see the things I've done to work towards my goals and the accomplishments I've made. When I read about the certain things I asked and did, I began to think to myself saying that I would not have done this if it wasn't for this class. I am a person that usually only do certain things just to get by and anything I felt was most important towards my degree. By doing the different exercises given in Sher's "Wishcraft" I have learned to be more determined about getting the best out of my education. I've made things that seem so small a big part in my life and I've learned to go get what I want in a more aggressive way. After meeting up with certain academic advisers, I began to look at my future in a more positive way. I began to start thinking about what I want to do after my undergraduate years and what I need to do in order to make that happen. "Leadership for Change" class has helped me to start planning ahead and think about the small and big for my life-time goals.

I interviewed quite a few people who were aspiring teachers, teachers presently as well as retired teachers. Hosting all of these interviews was the first time I have done this. The interviews helped me to realize what I am actually getting myself into as far as becoming a high-school teacher and what the work will be like during undergrad as well as after. The three things that I liked most about about "Leadership for Change" was the Barbara Sher's "Wishcraft" book, the documentary entitled "The Secret" and the "Black List" Documentary. When I think back on this class these were the three things that stuck with me and stood out the most. The three things that I least liked about the class was, well there is only two things that I can think of which is the Komives book and the buddy system. I really enjoyed this class and I believe that by taking away Komives and the buddy system, we would be able to still accomplish what has to be and have been accomplished throughout the semester. I don't really feel as if this class needs any improvements because I feel as if everything was given in a even proportion. Overall I'm happy with my progress throughout this semester and I am looking forward in continuing my next steps planned out on my planning wall. I can't wait to the day that I can look back and see that I have accomplished my goals that I physically wrote out as my life-time goal.

STAYING ON TRACK

The steps I chose for this year to take in furthering my career in becoming a high school teacher was take the basic skills test and pass it, register for content area test, enroll in requirede education courses, speak with advisor about classes and graduation timing and last study and complete every homework assignment for classes to raise g.p.a. As of now I have completed every major step that I have scheduled out that is most important in getting my degree. As of now all I'm waiting for is to see my grades for the semester and continue to study for courses that I have finals in. I have committed to study throughout everyday with mini activities and hobbies in between, that way I wouldn't be cramming alot of information in my brain and not be stressed.

I met with another friend who is majoring in the same major as myself. I decided to choose her because she will be done this year and I wanted to match my accomplishment and future classes and tasks with those that she took. I told her about everything that I gave myself to complete for this semester. She congratulated me on finishing my goals for the year. She asked me about my studying for the english courses and the gpa for my major courses. I replied saying that I was right at a 3.0 for my major courses. She continued to stress the fact that a 3.0 is required at uic for teaching of english major students. She gave me certain points and excellent teachers she had in furthering her years of attaining higher than a 3.0 in her english class. She gave me advice of what she did to keep her 3.0 and higher and what she is facing meanwhile. She encouraged me and reassured me that I am well qualified and able to pass every course at uic with a b or better. She gave me her contact information and let me know that I can contact her at any time and date.

Being that I stated I completed the last steps I scheduled for this year as well as the first couple of steps for 2010, the only thing that was left for me to plan for was to study study study. I decided instead of actually studying with hobbies in between that I would just continue to study harder than ever. Keeping in mind that a 2.5 is required after this semester in order to apply for candidacy in February. I figured that by studying having a 2.5 or higher is waiting on me in the future. I also commit to registering for English 222 course, in hopes of helping other students who may need help with english papers. By registering for English 222, I can get a head start feel of how it would be with a real student one on one in helping a UIC student. I commit to having more than 15 credit hours for the spring semester, in which I feel that I am able to achieve and complete.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

My Plans for this week was to finish my zoo report and to meet with an advisor about applying for candidacy in the spring semester. The zoo report consisted of me attending a zoo and observing the behaviors of apes/monkeys. I seen different type of monkeys. The zoo report consists of three pages about what I observed at the zoo. I thus far finished 2 and a half pages of the zoo report. The report is due thursday so I decided that I would fully complete the zoo report by Tuesday, if not Monday.

The second thing I did was meet with an advisor this past Tuesday. It wasn't a scheduled appointment so I met with an advisor who I've never met (I usually like to stick with the same advisor each time, but since I planned it I pushed myself to do it). I asked her about the whole applying for candidacy for student teaching and she responded that I was moving in the right direction with other positive responses. One thing she said that hit me that kind of made me nervous was that I would have to have a 2.5 G.P.A. to apply for candidacy. Im currently not at a 2.5, but after this semester I'm quite sure that not having a 2.5 would not be a factor for me. I began to ask her what steps I should take and what it would be like if I don't have a 2.5 by the spring. She responded that not having a 2.5 in the spring would cause me to get an extra semester added to my college experience because there are only certain times where you can apply for candidacy. I became a little worried and this thought became heavy on my mind throughout the week.

With the thought of not having a 2.5 by the spring on my mind, I looked forward to a buddy meeting. I was unable to get in touch with my original buddy that I chose, so I chose someone else who would tell me what I needed to hear as well as encouragement. I told her about my plans for the upcoming week and what I planned on doing. I also told her what I planned to be in the near future and what progress I made. I mention the meeting with my advisor and what was said to me about the 2.5 and candidacy and I let her know that I became a little worried. She told me that I was able to do it, and that I need to start seeing what is most important in my life (as far as goals) and start working towards those goals. Although she is not apart of my class, she agreed to speak to me every week and even dedicate a day to study with me. She reassured me that good grades comes with hard work and studying, all of which is easy. She stated that, "If you have good grades, then your G.P.A. will move, your work will show in how much your g.p.a moves." I was happy to have this buddy meeting because it helped me to realize that I still have more tests and papers to ace to keep up my good grades.

Success Come With Hard Work

The one thing I chose to blog about on that was on my planning wall was studying and passing every test and papers with an "A" and settling for a "B. Yes studying and preparing for tests and papers are easy tasks to fulfill but I feel that studying and prep. aration are great keys in accomplishing a goal. My major is teaching of English, which consists of lots of reading, writing and quizzes. When it comes to studying and preparations for tests and paper, I am one who tends to procrastinate and wait until the last minute. I decided on this past week that I would take at least 2 hours out the day and study or prepare for any upcoming papers or tests, even if they are 3 weeks from now. Sounds simple, but I feel as if I'm a very extroverted person and putting my work and schooling before anything everyday was a big accomplishment to me. I study normally about 3 times a week, but studying everyday was hard. Although studying and preparing for upcoming quizzes and finals everyday was a little challenging, I learned to push away from things that can actually be a stumbling block in my journey in becoming a teacher. The next step for me to take upon completing the basic skill test to become a certified teacher is complete the content area test. I took time out to look up the upcoming dates to take the content area test and made preparations to take the content area test (ENGLISH-only) on February 13, 2010.

I experienced the "Let Them Be Mad" resistance on this past week. I am expected to work hard and do everything in a certain manner, whether its my boss 0r family. I am always expected to do everything perfect and strive for the best, because of that reason I tend to stress alot about different things. When I stress I like to talk about what is bothering me. I often keep things to myself due to survival fear. Talking things out usually ends up with someone fussing with not much support. I usually like to make everyone happy or please everyone. To get around the survival fear, I ended up finding someone who gives support and express my feelings. I also put away or stop doing certain things that wasn't necessary, in order to relieve some stress. I learned that I can't make everyone happy and that my happiness is the most important. Putting my happiness first helped me to overcome certain fears.

The Obstacles and Steps in Becoming A Teacher

The person I chose to interview and write about for this week was someone who has became a high school teacher recently and not that far along in age from myself. I chose this person because she too aspire to be a professor, but wanted to start at the high school. I felt that interviewing this person I would get a better feel of what to expect when becoming a high school teacher because she too is young and is consider fresh in the teaching world.

The interview started with me asking her what was the hardest thing she had to do in college before attaining her degree. She replied by saying actually becoming a certified teacher, and she stated that some people may have a degree and are teaching but there were tests she had to take in order to be considered a certified teacher. She stated that there were tests she took and that the content area test was the most difficult. She stated that she took alot of classes dealing with history (which was her major) but she also stated that the hardest part was keeping a 3.0 in her major classes. She also spoked about when she student teached, how it was beneficial because she felt that she would always have a connection with students being that she too was young, but she stated that things didn't turn out that way. She spoke about she had students who tried to run over her and didn't want to listen because they felt that because she looked so young she was one of them. When I heard that I became a little worried because I too feel that I would always be able to grasp a student attention and keep it because I feel like I was one of them not too long ago and I know what I expected and wanted in a teacher, I also explained to her that I too felt that way. She replied by saying, "You have to be tough and not tolerate nonsense." She stated that once you make that clear, the students will respect you and she stated that after that you will probably come across one or two students who try to step to you in a disrespectful way, but I have to keep in mind that they are still children and not adults.

I started a different conversation with her by asking how is it being a little younger than most staff and working in the school system. She replied by saying, you must always come in strong and to the best of your ability, because you would come across some who questions your ability to teach and expecting you to fail. You stated that I even may come across some teachers who tries to question your education and want to know where you graduated from,etc. She stated that being a little younger than most staff caused alot of students to talk to her more and respect her because she is able to understand why they behave the way they do. She stated that providing a great education to a student will be an essential key to your career, but sometimes you may have to play the counsel role because each student is different and behave in different ways and they may want to open up to you about that. The interview ended short, but I was reassured that I will be just fine and that she is always there for support and help.

My Planning Wall (weekly calendar at bottom, float chart in middle, 6 month goal calendar at top) along with those who inspire me as well as those who I feel are my imaginary family. (was not sure if we was suppose to include the imaginary family, but I saw Dr. Roc do it, so I felt I should do as well. :-))

I committed to completing one first step. I received a passed on the Basic Skills Test which is a first accomplishment in my road in becoming a teacher. You must pass the Basic Skills Test, in order to take the content area test as well as apply for candidacy. I also committed to meeting with the secondary education advisor Kimberly Clark in which I did. She explained everything I needed to do and take in order to graduate on time. She explained that now that I have a pass on Basic Skills Test I need to go to the education department so that they can approve me for the required courses I need to take in the spring semester (so, I decided to make that my next step for this upcoming week along with others)

STUDENT NOW, TEACHER LATER

I INTERVIEWED 2 MORE OF MY ROLE MODELS. ONE WHO IS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER IN THE PROCESS OF TEACHING ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL AND THE OTHER WHO TEACHES ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE IN WISCONSIN. I CHOSE THE FIRST PERSON BECAUSE I FELT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE ME A LOOK AT WHAT TO EXPECT AS FAR AS WORK IN BECOMING A PROFESSOR. I CHOSE TO INTERVIEW THE SECOND PERSON BECAUSE SHE IS IN ANOTHER STATE AND I FELT IT WOULD BE NICE TO INTERVIEW SOMEONE WHO TEACHES AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE RATHER THAN A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY TO SEE IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.





THE FIRST PERSON I INTERVIEWED WHO TEACHES HIGH SCHOOL, YET WORKING TO TEACH ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL SPOKE TO ME ABOUT ALL THE WORK THAT I SHOULD EXPECT POST-UNDERGRAD. I ASKED HER WHAT TO EXPECT AS FAR AS THE WORK AND CLASSES, AND SHE RESPONDED BY SAYING THEIR WOULD BE ALOT OF READING AND PAPERS, SOME OF WHICH MAY INCLUDE GROUP PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OR EVEN A PORTFOLIO OF 75 PAGES OR MORE. I ASKED HER IF SHE IS OFTEN TESTED ON WHAT SHE IS STUDYING AND SHE RESPONDED SAYING THAT THERE ISN'T MUCH TEST-TAKING JUST ALOT OF READING AND WRITING. I ASKED HER HOW WAS IT TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL AND GOING TO SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I PLANNED ON DOING WHILE TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL, SHE STATED THAT IT CAN GET A LITTLE STRESSFUL BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE LESSON PLANS READY FOR EACH DAY AND ON SOME DAYS YOU MAY HAVE TO JUGGLE YOUR LESSON PLANS AND HOMEWORK AT THE SAME TIME. SHE SUGGESTED THAT IN HIGH SCHOOL NOT ALOT OF TEACHERS USE SYLLABUS BUT SHE FELT THAT HANDING OUT A SYLLABUS TO HER STUDENTS MADE IT EASIER FOR HER AND ALSO GIVES THE STUDENTS A TASTE OF WHAT TO EXPECT IN COLLEGE. THE INTERVIEW ENDED WITH HER STATING THAT IF YOU HAVE MADE UP IN YOUR MIND THAT TEACHING ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL IS WHAT I WANT TO DO THEN NOTHING WHETHER ITS STRESSFUL OR HARD WILL STOP ME.





THE SECOND PERSON I INTERVIEWED TEACHES AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE IN WISCONSIN. I CHOSE TO INTERVIEW HER BECAUSE SHE HAS A PHD AND IS AN ACTUAL PROFESSOR INSTEAD OF AN INSTRUCTOR. I FELT THAT SHE COULD GIVE ME A SENSE OF HOW IT WAS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS OF BECOMING A PROFESSOR AS WELL AS HOW IT IS ONCE SHE FINALLY MADE IT AS AN ACTUAL PROFESSOR. SHE FIRST STARTED BY SAYING THAT IT WAS A LONG TOUGH ROAD FULL OF WORK. SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW GETTING ANYTHING LESS THAN THE LETTER GRADE B IN A CLASS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I ASKED HER WHAT WERE SOME OF THE DOWN TIMES SHE HAD WHILE IN SCHOOL AND SHE RESPONDED SAYING THAT USUALLY TOWARDS THE END OF HER CLASSES IS WHEN SHE BECAME STRESSED THE MOST. SHE TOO STATED THAT I HAVE TO HAVE A DETERMINE MIND WHILE IN SCHOOL BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHERE YOU MAY HAVE A OVERLOAD OF WORK AND IF YOU AREN'T DETERMINE THEN YOUR DREAM IN BECOMING A PROFESSOR CAN GET DETERRED BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN 2 YEARS TO BECOME THAT PROFESSOR AND THAT I WILL BE IN SCHOOL FOR QUITE SOME TIME UNTIL I GET MY TITLE AS A PROFESSOR INSTEAD OF INSTRUCTOR. I ASKED HER HOW WAS IT TEACHING AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE AND SHE RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THE CURRICULUM IS MUCH INTENSE AND A GREAT EDUCATION IS EXPECTED ALL THE TIME. SHE STATED THAT DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF PRIVATE COLLEGE YOU WORK AT CERTAIN THINGS ARE EXPECTED ON THE SIDE OF THAT GREAT EDUCATION. THE INTERVIEW ENDED WITH HER SAYING THAT HARD WORK PAYS OFF IN THE END, AND NOT TO PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO HOW LONG I HAVE TO GO AND JUST TAKE EACH DAY AT A TIME.

I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED. I RECEIVED GOOD AND BAD, ALL OF WHICH MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR A BLOG, BUT I FEEL THAT I HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT IM GETTING MYSELF INTO. INTERVIEWING THE PROFESSOR FROM WISCONSIN GAVE ME MORE MOTIVATION IN BECOMING THAT PROFESSOR.

"The Future I Work Hard For"

I am currently majoring in English for Secondary Education. Although I want to eventually become a honorary professor, I've always wanted to teach high school and coach on the high school level. I plan to start off teaching on the high school level once I finish undergrad. Because I want to start at the high school level I figured I start with my role models who are teaching at the high school level instead of the ones on the professor level. The two people I chose to interview was Charles Cole and Gloria Winfield. Both of which who are/was high school teachers in the Chicago Public system.

I interviewed Charles Cole and asked about the rode he took and went through to make it to his teaching career. He stated that, "Once you make up in your mind what you genuinely want to do, you MUST remain FOCUS and let nothing deter it." He talked about how he started and finished at Chicago Teachers College which is now called Chicago State University. The only struggles he faced was the general classes that he had to take and that he major classes were the easiest. He stated that instead of doing a lot of socializing he studied. He formed study groups with others in the class and made sure that he knew the material, being that he studied History for Secondary Education which required memorizing lots of dates. Once he graduated from Chicago Teacher College, he stated that he work in the Chicago Public system for over 30 in many Chicago Public High Schools on the north, west and south side. Once he started his career he stated that the only thing that he had to face that wasn't much of a good experience was misbehaved students, flirtacious young female students and at one point a uneasy principal. He stated that these are some of the thing I may face as a young teacher but all he did to overcome it was set some rules/regulations and remain stearn. The students knew what rules they had to follow and what would occur if they didn't. He stated by him being stearn and being a tough teacher he was able to get the students respect. As for his principal, he stated that as long as you do what is expected than there shouldn't be any bad feedback from your boss. He stated that because he had a love for his students and his job he didn't have many bad experiences.

The second person I interviewed was a counselor who use to be a high school teacher. I chose to interview her because I always imagined myself as a high school teacher who had students that came to her for advice and with her being my ex-counselor and teacher I figured I should interview her. I first started by asking her what made her go from being a teacher to being a counselor. She stated that she loved teaching but she loved helping her students and seeing them succeed by her advice which made her want to change from being a high school teacher to a high school counselor. She was an English teacher which is actually the subject I am majoring in now. She told me to be looking forward to a lot of reading and writing. She talked about how all of her college years consisted of reading a lot of materials she liked and hated as well as a lot of papers that consisted of many pages. She stated, "as long as you read and get an understanding, everything else should come easy." Upon becoming a teacher, she stated she too faced a lot of misbehaved young students, she talked about how I would always face misbehaved students who may or may not want to learn. She spoke about how she made her material more interesting according to the things she that she saw her students has an interest in which made them want to learn more. She too said that I must be have a love for my career in order to enjoy it fully.

Now that I interviewed both high school teachers, I am well aware that I may face a lot of misbehaved students and students who may not want to learn, but they reassured me that if I have a love for my career and students I would be fine. I always had a love for helping and giving advice to younger children. I never imagined the rode to becoming a high school teacher easy but I hope it turns out to be everything I imagined.