Fortes fortuna adiuvat -- No guts, no glory
---
Sometimes I feel that we can't ever overestimate its value. As of this writing, we are on the thirteenth day (seventeenth, including weekends) of study in the Secondary Education Master of Arts with certification program at the University of Michigan School of Education. My cohort, Blue, is comprised of twenty learners; the other, Maize, eighteen. Thus far we have covered a diversity of topics that range from practical classroom-management techniques to developmental and psychological perspectives to education for sustainability to (most challenging, for me) rudimentary statistical principles of educational research. I'm grateful that this is the first course of study in a while in which I've routinely experienced rushes of goosebumps in the course of (most of) the homework. I feel unbelievably lucky to be studying the applied science and art of a discipline that I care so much about and that has the potential to create so much good in the universe.
I feel luckier still that I have met thirty-seven fine women and men who are equally devoted to the work of helping young people learn how to make personal and intellectual investments in themselves and their communities. They range characteristically in a variety of factors, but I feel safe in saying that each of them is a caring individual committed to changing the course of our society's educational practice in a positive way, and I'm thankful that I have the chance to learn from their ideas, experiences, and ways of living.
It's unimaginable where we'll be only a year from now. It's impossible to predict fully where philosophies will change, where friendships will form, where joy will manifest or be interrupted -- but it is a certainty that every one of us will be better for the sleepless nights, the hand-cramps, the bruxism, the eye-strain. We will know even more fully that we do -- or do not -- want to commit to a life of learning and helping others learn.
With effort, patience, introspection, engagement, and a bit of luck -- we will be teachers. And I'm wicked amped about it.
I enjoyed reading your post, you are a great writer! I too am looking forward to all we will learn this year on our way to becoming the best educators we can be. On a side note, I would love your broccoli salad recipe, it was amazing! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeni! Here's the recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/fresh-broccoli-salad/ (It's super-easy and pretty inexpensive -- the ratio of sugar is pretty malleable. I left out the almonds and bacon for the potluck, but I bet it'd be pretty delicious with them added in. Hope your 7/4 weekend is a good one! See ya Monday.
Delete