Thursday, March 30, 2006

A Season of Changes

Spring has sprung and I find myself changing with the season.

Currently I am working as a "Life Skills" facilitator in a program that helps people on social assistance enter the work force. It is a very rewarding job and everyday is an unique experience. The changes I see in the participants in six short weeks is amazing. Most people in the program have the necessary skills to become employed but they just lack the confidence and support needed to make the transition from living on assistance to becoming gainfully employed. It always surprises me when I learn these folks are often not encouraged by their loved ones to do something rewarding for themselves. I guess I have been fortunate enough to always be surrounded by people who support my life decisions and lucky enough to have the confidence to try anything.

Besides working, I have been busy adding to my teaching portfolio. I have come to the point in my life where I have to market myself and make myself stand out in the crowd - be the yellow tulip in a sea of red, so to speak. If I wish to become employed as a teacher in New Brunswick then I have to be prepared to present documentation on my professional development. This is not a bad thing but I still feel as if I am trying to sell a product.

My situation is a little different than most new graduates as I have actually been involved in the school system for the past fifteen years. I have experience as a substitute teacher, tutor, mentor, and volunteer. I have done the "Hokey Pokey" in a kindergraten class and discussed STD's with middle school students. Some days were filled with laughter, others with tears. There are students I will never forget and some I wish I could. Through all these experiences I have discovered one thing - I love it all. The learning, the teaching, the researching, the planning, and everything else in between.

Teaching is my passion and now all I have to do is figure out a way to package that passion so it will shine through in my portfolio. Wish me luck (I have a job interview next week).

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