One Year in Review
Today is the first day of a new year… it’s ONE YEAR IN REVIEW. One year ago, on November 26th, was my last day of teaching in public schools. After 16 years of service, I left the teaching profession with intentions of working on my doctoral thesis and gain some perspective on life, career, and public education. It was certainly a year of transition.
All that I can say is, moving from A to B is not necessarily a straight line. It’s a matter of trying things and taking risks. If things don’t happen the way you intend them, then it was not meant to be. If things do work out and exceed your expectations, then that was meant to be. As much as there were UP moments, there were plenty of DOWN moments. Leaving the teaching profession was not an easy decision. I miss the kids. With that said, I look behind me and I was able to accomplish a lot in one-year.
Here are my Top 10 highlights of things I got to do in the past 12-months:
1. Walk my daughter to school and be with her on the first day of school.
2. Started my own educational consulting company, websites, and blog.
3. Presented at 10 teacher professional development workshops.
4. Tutor students mathematics and science from Grades 8-12 and ABE.
5. Attended Educ 809 at SFU with Dr. Michelle Nilson. Loved it.
6. Peer-reviewed and presented at the EGSA EWOB and the Seminar Series.
7. Attended the SFU Teaching and Learning Instructional Skills Workshop.
8. Watched Nel Noddings LIVE at SFU and her views on the Ethics of Care.
9. Employed as a MEd Site Assistant at SFU working with Dr. Michele Schmidt.
10. Elected as School Trustee representing the District of Sechelt with SD46.
This is not to mention that I had met a lot of wonderful people along the way. I got to paddle in the 2011 Pulling Together, present at FNESC with my canoe family, and I will be completing my Certificate in Teaching at University with SFU TLE in the Spring of 2012. These are only highlights. I am not one to deny the rough times, but there were too many good things that happened. This is my JOURNEY and it’s only the beginning. I feel good and I am optimistic of what the future holds for me… hopefully, Dr. Christine Younghusband, EdD some time soon… LOOKING FORWARD.