I did not always know I wanted to be a teacher. That being said, I have always known that I have a passion for helping others, and have consistently tried to seek ways to do so both purposefully and coincidentally. I actually started my undergraduate career at Michigan State University as a Criminal Justice major, thinking one day I would wind up in the FBI. It wasn’t until I began working in an early childhood development facility that I realized I could still do what I am passionate about, which is to help people, however in a different light. This is when my path to become an educator first began. I decided to pursue my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Michigan State University. However, my journey did not end there. After almost four years of teaching elementary school, and three-fourths of a Master's program completed, I made yet another drastic turn in my journey as I completely changed careers. Now I am a Talent Acquisition Specialist, and have found myself veering in a very different yet somewhat similar direction. This new role once again allows me to help others grow and achieve their goals, this time in a way that best suits my skills and desires. This all being said, I have had to navigate the remainder of my Master of Arts in Education (MAED) courses in a way that made sense to my new professional and personal goals. It hasn’t been easy, but as just as most things are at the end, it has definitely been rewarding. And even though my career has changed, I am thankful my schooling has remained constant and will stick with me through my new career and life. Throughout this educational journey, I have been fortunate enough to take a variety of classes that have been impactful in such a way that my outlook on lifelong learning and life has changed in a variety of ways.

 

One of the courses that quickly had, and continues to have, a positive impact on my life is CEP 801 (Psychological Development: Learner Differences and Commonalities), which I took in Spring of 2021. This course gave me insight into the process of learning under many different circumstances and learning styles. It helped me understand common misconceptions I was holding on to unknowingly, and to realize the impact certain life decisions and contexts can have on learning. For example, before this course I believed someone’s IQ was what determined how “smart” someone is. In a standardized format, an IQ actually measures someone's mental ability to obtain, process, and analyze information. This being said, there are a variety of ways in which people learn but also express their learning. Therefore, IQ is not the be-all-end-all in regards to someone’s overall intelligence, although it can be a predictor of certain learning behaviors. We also learned about a variety of other standardized tests that measure other variables that may influence intelligence, and how genetics can play an important role as well.

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

For our final project in CEP 801, we had to choose and research how a certain aspect of an individual’s experience impacts their learning. I chose to focus on addiction and the psychological and cognitive effects this has both directly and indirectly on an individual's ability to acquire knowledge. At the time of researching and writing about this topic, I had three years of teaching under my belt. Seeing some of the impacts of addiction first hand in my personal life, as well as the indirect effects it had on some children in my classroom, I had a deeper connection with this assignment. Using these personal experiences made this assignment even more powerful and impactful. I learned that whether we realize it or not, everything we do has an effect on our learning and sometimes the learning of others around us as well. I also found it fascinating how, as mentioned above, certain genetic factors can predict when learning may be impacted the most or in what ways. Perhaps most importantly, I realize that too often we overlook or disregard these other factors in people’s lives are affecting their day to day habits and overall being. Especially if we may not have gone through it or experienced it ourselves. In summation, one of the biggest takeaways from this course that I gained is to seek first to understand learner differences in all individuals, even lifelong learners such as myself and anyone looking to further themselves in their careers. Only then can we begin to truly understand and connect with each other. 

 

Another course which had a positive impact on my life in a similar way to the class mentioned above is CEP 800 (Learning in Schools and Other Settings). This course first caught my attention as I was in the initial process of seeking out other career opportunities, and I knew I wanted a course in which I could specifically carry what I learned with me to my next role, whatever that may be. Thankfully, it ended up being perfect for that. This course was focused on what learning is at a foundational level, as well as how it occurs in a variety of contexts and at a variety of degrees and stages. For example, it taught me the logic and process behind how one advances from "novice" to "expertise" in a certain skill set, and how these stages are defined. The most impactful portion of this course for me, however, was the creation of our “Habit Goal” assignment. After learning about how habits are formed, each of us had to choose a habit we wanted to start or continue and plan strategic pieces of action to help us follow and obtain these habit goals. I decided I wanted my goal to be doing yoga at least three times a week. Seems simple, but for someone who feels they are always too busy for anything and often seeks unhealthy ways to help alleviate stress, this had the potential to be a game changer. And it was! While I stumbled a couple of times keeping up with my weekly yoga routine and habit plan, I overall gained a better coping mechanism to deal with the stressors of my everyday life. This assignment and our associated lessons also taught me how to plan and implement wanted habits in other areas of my life as well. I think about this topic on a regular basis as I try to keep up my efficient work habits on a regular basis and hold others accountable as well.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

One of my absolute favorite courses I took during the MAED program, and perhaps my college schooling overall, was TE 838 (Children’s Literature in Film). I have always had a true passion for literature. Reading was something I learned to love at a young age. I remember reading with my dad every night in my designated “reading chair” of our living room. To this day, my love for reading continues and if anything, is only growing. At the same time, I also truly enjoy film and media. Going to the movies is another one of my favorite things to do, and what is better than finding a great movie or TV show that really hooks you?  Just like reading and books, movies and other types of film can also have a way of sticking with you forever.  TE 838 started off by teaching the “behind the scenes” reasons and techniques behind film that I personally had never thought of or recognized. For example, I learned about a variety of different angles filmmakers use and why they choose to use these specifically. Also the purpose behind adding certain music to scenes to affect our perception of what the mood is or what is happening. After learning this, I was unable to watch commercials, TV shows, or any film without catching myself searching for these features and questioning what I was watching. Truthfully, I still do this today. After these foundational lessons, we had the opportunity to go back and reread (or for some including myself, read for the first time) some childhood classics. This included picture books, such as “Where the Wild Things Are” and chapter books, such as “Charlotte’s Web”.  We then watched the films and compared the similarities and differences between both and why these changes were made and how it impacted the overall experience or purpose either intentionally or unintentionally. More importantly, we learned how these media types have come to shape our society even to this day. 

 

For one of our final assignments, we had to reread Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and watch the first movie in the influential series. We then had to discuss how the media can help promote and create cultural phenomenons, such as Harry Potter has become. Giant media corporations and investors behind franchises such as HP, including Disney itself, profit from our love of the characters they create (or buy, in the case of J.K. Rowling). Theme parks, stuffed animals, cereals, clothes, and etc., are marketed and sold based off of what is pinpointed as “hot” or popular in today’s culture and society. At the same time, it is crazy and somewhat scary to think about how the media is constantly influencing and manipulating what we do and like, sometimes without us even realizing it.  From this assignment and others throughout this course, I became more aware of the powerful influences found in society today that we encounter on a regular basis. Even just this afternoon as I was driving home from work, I heard an ad on the radio for CocaCola products that started with the sound of a can popping and fizzing. To a Diet Coke lover such as myself, that was music to my ears and I immediately had a craving for the soft drink and almost stopped at my local gas station before recognizing what was happening. This course has without a doubt made me more aware of what I am watching and buying as well as the positive and negative impacts media can have on the youth and people of all ages. Something I think everyone should educate themselves. On the other hand and in, it also makes me want to use media as a platform to further my career in the talent and staffing industry as the effectiveness is apparent. It is truly a double edged sword. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

Throughout my time in the Masters of Arts in Education Degree program, I learned a lot about myself and others, even through a virtual setting. I am very grateful I was able to take the courses I did when I did, and don't regret any changes I made along the way. Being able to participate in these lessons and assignments while simultaneously teaching and transitioning into a new career recruiting has helped me directly utilize the skills I was learning. It gave purpose to my new found knowledge, but also provided me with the opportunity to pass that knowledge on to others. Through all the lesson plans, assessments, papers, video reflections, and etcetera that I created, I became and feel as though I am a more well-rounded, aware, and professionally ready individual.