What sums up everything, I think, is that I am busy, I am manic, but I am finding my passions in new and interesting ways. The topic on the forefront of my workload has been my dissertation. After that last push, my proposal was completed, and next Friday I do my oral presentation to my hand-selected committee of four professors who have an interest and knowledge in my topic. Additionally, the proposal meeting is open to any students who would like to attend, and it seems I will have quite the audience. It has been humbling, yet motivating, to go through everything and know that people think that I am capable and will do well next week. I am nervous, but hopeful that I will pass next week and be able to begin my research.
My real passion, though, I am finding in my practicum. I am working at a local high school once a week, assisting the English language learners department. My focus thus far has been on assessing the skills of the new arrival students, as well as getting to know the students and the program. This is the first time that I am getting to focus on academics and the classroom, instead of psychopathology and fixing behavior problems. I am confirming that this really is my element, my home, my calling. I love my high schoolers, and they love the gringa who speaks Spanish. I love that I have freedom in this setting to create and direct and be a professional. I am satisfied, and I am feeling better than ever about going into internship.
In the rest of my time, I go to work and class. Work is good- I am helping with research that I enjoy. I have learned a lot about research in a short time, and I am getting to use my education background to answer questions. My one actual class is all about teachers, and research on teachers. It is the first time that I have taken a class with almost all teachers, so it is wonderful to share my experiences and hear from others, and to explore what being an effective teacher really means, on a deep, philosophical level as well as a practical level. I also have my internship seminar class, which is my reminder that I have an application to complete, references to ask for, and things to do that I will work on when my proposal is finished.
Finally, I spend wonderful time with wonderful people. I have my eternal support group of school and church friends that listens to me and feeds me and is always there for me. On the weekend, now, I also have my camp friends, who have become my partners in Aggie pride, who are so much fun and have added some much needed spirit to the heaviness of this year. And every time I go home, I have Jenny there to greet me and love me.
This school year is not easy- there are pressures, and long days, and many things to get done before I can reach my major goals of obtaining an internship and completing my dissertation. Thankfully, I have things I love to do and people I love to do them with. This should be a very good year.
The view from my office
1 comment:
I like the background on your blog. Is this new, or have I been blind before now? :-) When I was getting my MA in English, I thought I would do more of a writing focus, but I wound up taking a lot of pedagogy/education classes as well. I learned as much from my classmates, almost all of whom were also teachers, as from my professors and my research. It was a rewarding experience, and I am glad that I still keep in touch with many of those folks. Good friends and good networking to boot.
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