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.

2 weeks, 1 day, 29 minutes...

It is now 1:31 p.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2008 and it's hitting me...I will be graduating from college in just 2 short weeks. I can't believe how fast the past semester has gone by. There were days when the end seemed so far away. But now here I am, sitting home and contemplating my future. Where do I go next? Where should I live? work? I don't have any answers. When I started college 4 years ago I felt so confident. Compared to most of my friends I was unique. I had a major and minor--a direction to go in education-wise. Now, here I sit, more confused than ever. I have so many big decisions to make in the next month. Should I sign a lease here or out of state? Where can I find a job? I mean, this is such a solid economy, right? :) I guess I wanted to throw all this out here because I have no idea. I just needs prayers and support...that is all.

brrrrr

A few years back someone, someone who knows me very well actually, once said, "Jennifer can't stand to be alone when it's cold outside. She needs someone to keep her warm." I laugh thinking about it now because it was said as a half joke. I am always cold...even when it's 70 degrees outside I am still cold. I thought you were supposed to be more adaptable to cold Michigan weather when you've lived here your whole life. However, the tough gene must have skipped me because I am always cold. Maybe it was growing up in my house, where the thermostat never seems higher than 64. That's only when we have company too. Usually it's 62...I wish I was just kidding there...haha So, as I freeze a little from the cold weather outside I just want to mention a few of the things that help me stay warm: a hot cup of coffee, wrapping up tightly in a blanket (which usually lends itself to an afternoon of reading if I have my way...), knee-high socks, my favorite sweatshirt (which is perfectly broken in of course), and a few intangible things. For example, my mother's smile, laugh, and the way she drinks her tea. Or watching a good movie and having someone to share it with. Perhaps, the way my dad cares about my brother and I so dearly. He is such a softhearted, wonderful father. Even the way my family teases one another in a playful manner. Maybe I'm cold on the outside, but these all warm my heart, which is far more important....that is all. :)

11/11

The 11th of November...by far one of my favorite dates on the calendar (even now, 4 years later). I've always been a lover of dates. They are committed to my memory in a strange way, and (WARNING: The following information is very nerdy and boring.) I tend to notice "cute" patterns with the numbers involved. Example 01-02-03/ 08-08-08/ 02-04-06--yes, I'm serious. :) It's not like I make a huge deal out of this sort of thing, but it makes me smile. Now, 11:11 is a popular time for some people with the whole "make a wish" thing, typical of optimists under the age of 25. So, is it really that shocking that I would think 11/11 was so special?

Other things I find special:
When you pick up your phone to call someone and it starts ringing the instead your fingertips graze the surface with...surprise, surprise, that person on the other end.
When the first snow comes to town and the flakes dance across your nose and dance around the ground...so excited to be back after the long summer that they refuse to settle.
When you sit down and realize you don't have anything to do..the idea is do foreign you rack your brain, but alas, you can relax without feelings guilty about it. :)
When you impact someone's life---it might just be passing a stranger and shooting a smile in his or her direction, but it makes a difference.
When you look back and see how much you've changed in the past year, and hopefully, it was for the better. Maybe you even grew up a little, but not too much. "Be childlike, not childish" :)
When you jam out in the car and catch the people next to you staring, after a .001 seconds worth of embarrassment you just keep dancing. Life is too short to care what other people think about you.
When a hug from someone special can make all your problems just melt away. It's rare to find people like that and if you do, hold onto them, but also, know when to let go of people. This is one of the hardest lessons I've faced in life.
When you think back on old memories and still laugh out loud because of your friends involved in making them. A true Friend Is Like A Good Bra... Hard to Find. Supportive. Comfortable. And Always Close To Our Heart... ;)

...just some random thoughts on a good day, that is all. :)

329

Today I was the 329th voter for the 4th percident in Rochester Hills. Voting has always been a big deal for me. I went to the Secretary of State the day after my 18th birthday to register and haven't missed an election since. This is not going to be some rant about my political opinions by the way. My parents raised me to keep those thoughts private. :) However, I will talk about the importance of voting. Two hundred years ago when our country was founded we were given the right to vote (well at least white men were and since then it's spread to everyone else over the age of 18) and I hate to sound too corny, but it's a gift. My first election was in 2004, and it was a presidental election so it was all the more exciting. I'm proud to have a voice in this country. :) that is all..