I once saw a bumper sticker that said something like, "I wish I were half the person my dog thinks I am," or something to that effect. I think that sums up my life goals fairly succinctly, but in an effort to provide more details I will provide a bulleted list.
Life Goals
- be happy
- bring happiness to others
- continue to learn
Professional Goals
obtain a Media Specialist position- earn my Specialist's degree (and MAYBE my doctorate)
- instill a love of reading & learning in as many children as possible
- remain passionate about teaching and learning and stop teaching the moment the passion fades
Program Goals
- learn how to successfully balance the many hats a Media Specialist wears
- gain practical experience in a Media Center
- memorize the Dewey Decimal System
Achievement of Goals
I feel very comfortable in the amount of success I've had in the SLM program. The Big 8 Assessments have been challenging and meaningful. I will be able to appreciate their full benefit in just a few short months. I've very much enjoyed the cohort model and the opportunity for strong personal connections, professional contacts, and friendships it provides. Despite the disjointed nature of my experiences in the SLM program, I've always been able to make quick friends. Perhaps I'm unique in that I've been a member of three cohorts - five, seven, and eight. I feel both excited and nervous about starting this new chapter in my teaching career. On the one hand, I know I've learned a great deal and that the foundation for becoming a successful Media Specialist has been laid. But I also know that nothing compares to the real thing. It's very similar to my first year in the classroom. I learned a great deal in my undergraduate years, but I learned so much more that first month of teaching. I imagine my experience this first year in a Media Center will be very much like that first year teaching. I still haven't memorized the Dewey Decimal System, but I think that may be one of the skills a Media Specialist quickly achieves on the job.
