Proud to be like Naomi...my top 5 :)

My top 5 college classes:
(Yes, I like copying Naomi, and I am not ashamed to admit it.) :)

So these are the 5 classes that come to mind first when I think over my 4 1/2 years at Rochester College. Some more for academic growth, some for spiritual growth, and some for social growth. They all were rewarding on some level to my journey as a lifelong learner.

1.) I guess it's always best to start at the beginning, so it would have to be Freshman Seminar. Although it was not the most academically stimulating class of my college career, I actually did learn a lot about relationships of all kinds: romantic, friendships, parental, sibling, etc. I also also introduced to Debi Rutledge, who is one of the finest members of the RC staff. Not only did she schedule meetings with all her freshman in that class (I still remember sitting in her living room and chatting about my hope for my college career.) but it was obvious she cared about us when we showed up. She also used to joke around about Lindsay's and my chronic tardiness...we were 5 minutes late about 50% of the time for this 10a.m. class, which is funny because I was always on time for my 8a.m. class the other 3 days of the week. Debi did not care at all. She was just happy we did show up. :) While on that subject, this class is also special because it was one of the reasons Lindsay and I got so close this 1st semester. We hadn't really been friends prior to RC.

2.) The next class that seems to jump out at me would have to be Educational Psychology, which I took during the spring semester of my sophomore year with Dr. Gordin MacKinnon. The class was on Friday mornings from 8-10:40...ouch. However, Dr. MacKinnon was so fascinating to listen to and had so many good stories to share. I also grew a lot from the field experience associated with this course at Hart Middle School in the Resource Room. There were also a few interesting book sharing experiences with Lindsay. :) haha

3.) Critical Writing and Literary Analysis seems to be the next class to come to mind when remembering the best of the best. I took it in the spring semester of my junior year (actually I technically had enough credits to be considered a senior but it was my 3rd year of college) with Tom Golden. He made us all really think. It was probably the most challenging course of my college career because we had to read different, thought provoking texts and analyze them with different "lenses." We had a paper due almost every class, and I often had to read the material 2 or 3 times to understand it, especially the first 3 or 4 weeks of the class. My talents as a writer grew and expanded throughout the course of this semester so much. I am so grateful for this course, and I only wished it could have been longer.

4.) I couldn't mention my favorite classes without slipping a Greer class in the mix. You see, History is my minor, and I took more classes with Dr. David Greer than any other professor over my time at Rochester. I sometimes even rearranged my schedule, so I would have the pleasure of hearing him lecture. My favorite Greer class is hard to tact down, but since I've got this chronological theme going on I'll say The Early American Republic, which I took during the spring of my senior year. It only had about 15 students, and there were some great discussions to be had during this course. Greer is best known for two things: his greeting and the fact that he never lets you out one minute early. The greeting: "Good morning (afternoon) history fans!" It is so apparent that he loves his job and history, and he will make you love it too. Also, he is one of the smartest professors I have had the pleasure of taking a class with.

5.) I am tempted to say Shakespearen Tragedies is my final favorite; HOWEVER, since Student Teaching is technically a class, I have to go with that. That 15 week semester was more challenging than any other two semesters put together. I grew more as a student, teaching, and person than any other 3 month period. I cannot begin to express how much I adore teaching. I can't wait to have my own classroom and do this the rest of my life. The students teach me something new every day. I can't get over how much I loved being even a small part of my student's lives. Working with Sarah was also a blessing, she was tough and pushed me every day. I am so grateful for this experience.

It was so difficult to list only 5 courses (in fact I cheated and mentioned 6 technically) but here are some for the honorable mention category: Old Testament with Dr. Fleer; Earth Science w/ Dr. Brackey; Grammar w/ Debbie Haskell; Advanced Composition and Senior Writing Project w/ Pam Light; Short Story Genre w/ Tom Golden; English Assessment Strategies w/ Vikki Bentley; Romans with Eric Magnusson; Comp. B and American Writers 2 w/ Zac Watson; Any Education class w/ Mr. Dawson, especially Oklahoma; and Nature Study w/ Carol Van Hoosen.

funny clothes

It's interesting how funny people dress up for graduation. I mean long gowns, that are far too baggy in many cases, which are made of thin, shiny material. The sleeves long and loose, and then there are the hats. Square and pointy edges in most cases; however, many of the professors who have a PhD get a round, cushion like hat and all adorned with tassels. I'm sure that if someone from another part of the world popped in for a graduation ceromony I wonder what observations they might make. I just look at pictures from graduation last weekend and tend to giggle...that is all.

the end or rather the beginning...

Life has a funny way of changing constantly. Here I sit, practically a college graduate. I completed all of my college courses last May and, as of last Friday, I completed student teaching including all of my seminar requirements. What's next? Well, I've subbed in Rochester the past three days, which has been great. I love teaching, and it's nice to know I will be happy doing it for the next thirty years. However, since I do love it so much, there is a drawback....the job market in Michigan. It's crazy to think even ten years ago how I would be interviewing at multiple schools right now, but today, well...that's obviously not the case.

I worked in a middle school Monday, and I was in a special education classroom with 5 students and 2 parapros to assist as well. What a crazy day that turned out to be! I have never felt so needed by students before! These 6th and 7th graders can not even form sentences to communicate what they wanted from from me. They needed hand on hand instruction, literally. I had to put the pencil in my student's hand and place my hand over top in order to help him write. I was exhausted by 2:30, but it was so rewarding to help them all so much.

Yesterday, I subbed in a CADs classroom. Basically, all the students work independently on computers designing things for engineering and architecture courses. It felt like I was a glorified babysitter, but it was great to be back at Stoney working with some of my old students and meeting some new students too.

Today, I worked as a P.E. teacher at Stoney. I know some of you are snickering. However, 4 out of my 5 classes just listened to a guest speaker who was introducing sex education. It was again great to be at Stoney. The school is so amazing. I just hope one day I end up in a school that nice!

So, I don't know where I'm going to end up. I have no idea if I'll find a job any time soon; however, I'll be praying about it, and I know God has some plan for me..that is all.