Knowledge is Power!
by Christina Wilson
Do you know what I have always considered myself to be? A learner. Since I was young, I have loved to learn new things and I have accomplished a lot of things in my life because of this fact. I would spend summers reading books and spending time in the library, so I would learn more about different subjects. In grade school, I looked up to my teachers and inspired to be like them - full of knowledge.
I am grateful that I became a teacher and can pass on what I have learned in life to my students. There are many professional developments that are offered, and I thoroughly enjoy participating in many of those professional development courses. At least once a summer and throughout the school year, I attend a seminar or class that gets offered so I can learn more. In teaching, I always yearn to learn something else that I can implement in the classroom.
Even though it was tough juggling a full-time teaching job and pursuing a master's degree at the same time, I am proud to say that I learned how to spend my time wisely. Looking into the future, I now know that I can achieve anything that I dream of. It was so rewarding to learn of new research and strategies and then instantly use that new knowledge in the classroom. This new knowledge that I will gain helps my students learn, so I will always strive to learn more so in return, my students will learn more also!
As the years have gone by and technology is increasing, I am learning a plethora of new things. I am thankful that I had online classes and am looking forward to taking more classes online, because it forces me to try using new technology and programs that I haven't used before. It is interesting to me that I have elementary grade students showing me how to use new technology and I can now go to them when I have questions. To think that I am only twenty eight years old and have grown up with at least some technology but still struggle with how to use some of the newest technology that has come out, just shows that there is always going to be more for me to learn.
Since last summer, I have been thinking about teaching a college class at the local community college. I think I could learn so much from students in a higher education setting, as well as learning even more about myself. Being an adjunct professor would allow me to study a specific educational area to an even greater extent so I could teach what I am learning to the students. The more people I reach as a teacher, the more impact I will have in the society around me. I always set new goals, and those goals encourage me to learn more.
This school year, I became a mentor to another teacher that just began her teaching career. This made me proud that I was chosen to lead someone else, as well as have the chance to teach another person the things that I have learned. I have used my knowledge that I have gained in my college classes to help my mentee become a better teacher and to help the students in her classroom learn to an even greater extent.
I have both surprised and excited myself when thinking about my education and my future endeavors. Since I know my master's has come to the end, I have been catching myself looking at university websites and to observe what degrees are being offered. I keep thinking to myself, "What do I want to pursue next?" I have had many ideas and there are so many options in the world and only time will tell what choice I will decide and where my education will take me next.
As a result of the life and education I have, I now know that I strive to learn even more in my blessed life. I know that learning is necessary and positive things for people, so it is important for me to have students realize this fact as well. My students, even though they have learning disabilities, can follow their dreams - whatever those dreams may be. I will keep complimenting their accomplishments and to share my life story with them as a good role model. As quoted from a song that I sung in elementary school and has stuck with me since: "Knowledge is power, I know what I know. The more you learn, the farther you'll go."
I am grateful that I became a teacher and can pass on what I have learned in life to my students. There are many professional developments that are offered, and I thoroughly enjoy participating in many of those professional development courses. At least once a summer and throughout the school year, I attend a seminar or class that gets offered so I can learn more. In teaching, I always yearn to learn something else that I can implement in the classroom.
Even though it was tough juggling a full-time teaching job and pursuing a master's degree at the same time, I am proud to say that I learned how to spend my time wisely. Looking into the future, I now know that I can achieve anything that I dream of. It was so rewarding to learn of new research and strategies and then instantly use that new knowledge in the classroom. This new knowledge that I will gain helps my students learn, so I will always strive to learn more so in return, my students will learn more also!
As the years have gone by and technology is increasing, I am learning a plethora of new things. I am thankful that I had online classes and am looking forward to taking more classes online, because it forces me to try using new technology and programs that I haven't used before. It is interesting to me that I have elementary grade students showing me how to use new technology and I can now go to them when I have questions. To think that I am only twenty eight years old and have grown up with at least some technology but still struggle with how to use some of the newest technology that has come out, just shows that there is always going to be more for me to learn.
Since last summer, I have been thinking about teaching a college class at the local community college. I think I could learn so much from students in a higher education setting, as well as learning even more about myself. Being an adjunct professor would allow me to study a specific educational area to an even greater extent so I could teach what I am learning to the students. The more people I reach as a teacher, the more impact I will have in the society around me. I always set new goals, and those goals encourage me to learn more.
This school year, I became a mentor to another teacher that just began her teaching career. This made me proud that I was chosen to lead someone else, as well as have the chance to teach another person the things that I have learned. I have used my knowledge that I have gained in my college classes to help my mentee become a better teacher and to help the students in her classroom learn to an even greater extent.
I have both surprised and excited myself when thinking about my education and my future endeavors. Since I know my master's has come to the end, I have been catching myself looking at university websites and to observe what degrees are being offered. I keep thinking to myself, "What do I want to pursue next?" I have had many ideas and there are so many options in the world and only time will tell what choice I will decide and where my education will take me next.
As a result of the life and education I have, I now know that I strive to learn even more in my blessed life. I know that learning is necessary and positive things for people, so it is important for me to have students realize this fact as well. My students, even though they have learning disabilities, can follow their dreams - whatever those dreams may be. I will keep complimenting their accomplishments and to share my life story with them as a good role model. As quoted from a song that I sung in elementary school and has stuck with me since: "Knowledge is power, I know what I know. The more you learn, the farther you'll go."