school level. In addition to teaching Math in High School, my desire is to be a strength and conditioning coach for a high school football team. When I went to UCLA and received a Bachelors of Arts in Biology in 1978, I did not value the learning process. My approach to school is just get through and get my degree. Years later, after retiring from the Marine Corps, I started going to school to become a teacher but this time I enjoyed the education process. Now I enjoy learning and want pass on my knowledge and experiences to influence the next generation in a positive way. I have always embraced new technology. From the briefcase cell phone of the 1980's to the IBM 586, I welcome the tools that technology provides. Now as a teacher in training, I realize that some or most of my future students are tech savvy. In order to meet my future students educational needs I need to be comfortable with the latest devices and programs. I look forward to the challenge and look forward to seeing how technology can help me be an effective teacher in the future.
One of the missions of California State University San Marcos School of Education is to "collaboratively transform education while promoting and foster social justice and educational equity". A society's survival depends on the passing of
knowledge and experiences down from one generation to the next. Teaching the youth of the next generation is
arguably one of the most important and noble profession. Teaching could and often does affect a
society for generations. Properly
motivated, the future for an educated child is limitless. Social Justice is achieved by providing an obtainable
pathway for all persons to successfully contribute to the society.
Matthew, thank you for wanting to keep serving your community, even after a Marine Corps career. One of the most important ideas you mentioned and that I have seen in class is the idea that you are now ready to grow and learn rather than just completing work to get it done. That determination to keep going, even when it gets tough is something that, if you share with the students you'll see everyday, will be a big benefit. Sometimes they need to see that some things don't come easy for all of us. but it doesn't mean you give up. The connection of that idea to social justice is also key. Determination and perseverance, ours and our students, will certainly help lead to "an obtainable pathway for all persons to successfully contribute to society".
ReplyDeleteAdina, Thank you for your kind words. I do believe that the only way to fail is to give up. In life very little comes easy. 10 years ago I had brain surgery and could not talk, read, or write for almost a year. Through that ordeal and my military career I have learned to never, never, never give up. I will pass that lesson to my future students.
Delete