Blog assignment #1

Reflecting on my personal educational experiences, the central themes that defined me as a student were the commitment and dedication I spent working on achieving a passing grade in class.  School was difficult for me and it took a lot of sacrifice to make that “B” in my math class.  I spent many lunch breaks in tutoring sessions but I knew what I had to do in order to succeed.  I was very involved with the cheer and dance teams in high school and had to maintain the G.P.A. requirements to participate. I was also very lucky to have a few influential teachers who helped me fulfill my dream of college. 

During my first two years of college at the University of New Mexico, general education courses and G.P.A. were again a means to keep my Lottery scholarship and stay involved as a Lobo cheerleader and the Chaparral dance group. My commitment changed when I began my specific course work for my family studies degree. I became very interested in learning about child development, family dynamics, socio-economic status, and the link between education level and job earnings. Education was still a means to an end but, instead of eligibility, it became a personal need to fill my “toolbox” with the skills to be an important part of the lives of the adolescents I worked with in my job.

I have been employed with the Bernalillo County Parks and Recreation Department since I was 15 years old as a part-time summer employee. My work began with seasonal recreation programs and grew into a teen dance program. My experiences have taught me to listen, be compassionate, and to speak at a level young people understand. I have developed a sense of how unique each individual’s view of the world is as they grow. My passion for dance and young people, combined with my with my education in family studies, has again inspired me to commit and dedicate myself to expand my knowledge. 

My work experience has developed my soft skills: compassion, communication and hard work. Earning my teacher’s license is also a means to an end—to further link my passion for youth to measurable education outcomes.