An Introduction

Hi there!

Thank you for reading my first post.  I am excited to be enrolled in TE 818: Curriculum in its Social Context, because with this class, I'm one step closer to completing my Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum (just one more class after this!).  I'm also excited because the skills and knowledge I will presumably gain by completing the coursework will help me succeed in my new profession.  

I am not currently teaching.  Instead, I work as an account executive for an academic publisher in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.  The change in profession came with a recent relocation to Seattle.  My studies through MSU and my experiences in education allowed me try something new within the field of education.  I do miss teaching at times, and may very well return to the profession one day.  For now, I am enjoying the change and I feel challenged in very new ways. 

Have you ever had a line from a book jump off the pages at you?  Almost like its speaking to you or that it was written about your own life? I recently read The Pilgrimage, by Paulo Coelho (author of The Alchemist), and on page 35 he says, "...always walk forward, adapting oneself to new situations and receiving in return all of the thousands of blessings that life generously offers to those who seek them."  Long before reading the book, I had been living with this as my mantra (thank you, Paulo, for putting it into words for me).  My insatiable wanderlust was triggered by an opportunity to study in Spain.  I never felt so alive.  My senses had been stimulated in ways I never felt before.  I became hyper aware of my surroundings and their seemingly endless possibilities.  Since then, I have attempted to duplicate the experience many times over.  I backpacked through Europe, South America, and Central America. I traveled to nearly every state in the U.S.  I moved to Chile, Colorado, back to Michigan, then to Washington.  Along the way, I have been involved in education in one way or another because it is what I'm truly interested in and passionate about.  My hopes are to one day be involved in international development through education.  

With my MATC degree, I am earning a K-12 ESL endorsement.  If I have an area of expertise, I suppose it would be language learning and instruction.  I taught Spanish for four years and ESL for one, and I attempted to learn Portuguese (though I haven't quite given up yet!).  

I enjoy any sort of activity that promotes physical fitness.  I like strength training and I recently began studying Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that evolved from the slaves disguising their martial art as a dance.  I'm awful at it so far, but I like it!