Hello and Welcome Cornerstone Students!
This week we will spend some time
getting to know each other. Each of us in the Capstone group will post a little
bit about ourselves so you can get to know us a little better, but we also want
to get to know you. So below you will find some prompts to get you started in
the introduction process.
This week’s blog post will be broken in to two
parts. The first will allow you to get your creative juices flowing and let us
know a bit about how you see yourself and the second part will be a bit more
analytical and dive into your ideas about interdisciplinary studies so we can
get an idea about your perspectives on this degree path.
Activity Part 1:
The ABCs of me
1. Write your full first and last name.
2. You will use
each letter in your first name only to describe yourself.
3. Take the first
letter and make it into a descriptive word. Follow this word with one to two
sentences about why you chose this word to describe yourself.
4. Continue
this with every letter of your first name to paint as complete a picture of
yourself and your interests as you can. Here is an example:
John
Doe
1. J is for Jovial: I’m a happy go-lucky type of person. I can always
find the good in every little moment.
2. O is for Ostentatious: Sometimes my
friends and family say I try a bit too hard to make myself the center of
attention and I am known for the occasional public display for attention.
3.
H is for Harmonious: I like to sing and come from a very musical family.
4. N
is for Neat: My room and office are impeccably clean. I feel frazzled if
everything isn’t in its proper place.
That’s it, should be fun seeing
what you come up with to describe yourself.
Activity Part 2: Talking
IDS
Please respond to these prompts in paragraph form.
1. Talk
about your focus areas and minor. Why did you choose these areas of study? Why
did you choose IDS over other degree options?
2. What are your plans
after graduation, more school or a career? How do you think your IDS degree will
help you achieve these goals?
3. Do you see any disadvantages to earning
an IDS degree? What are they? If not, what do you think the advantages of this
degree are in the job market (or upper education)?
4. What are one or two
things you hope to gain from this mentoring experience?
We will do our
best to individually respond to your posts this semester. Since we all have
different experiences and backgrounds we may be able to provide multiple
perspectives to your posts. As mentioned above, we will all introduce ourselves
to you in this post too. So, feel free to respond to our posts if you want to
learn more about us.
Looking forward to sharing this semester with all of
you,
Nicole Camire, Julissa Fernandez, Melissa King, Kitcha Sapp, Amanda
Tellez, Denise VonGartzen, and Mark Walker (Affectionately known as Group
8)
Mark Walker
Lisa West
ReplyDeleteL is for loving. I am a very caring, loving individual. I tend to put others feelings, needs, and emotions before my own.
I is for independent. I am a single mother of a two year old girl, named Caiylee. She is my world. I work close to full-time at a restraint, and I am a full-time student.
S is for sociable. I love meeting and socializing with new people. I enjoy the company of others and learning about them.
A is for awesome. I know this may seem a little conceded, but I feel like I am an all around awesome person. I am a lot of fun to be around; I am a great listener, a wonderful friend, and an amazing mother. I try my best in everything I do and I am a very passionate person.
W is for wishful thinker. I always look for the positive outcome with everything. It is important to stay positive and always hope for the best.
E is for educated. I take education very seriously. Education, to me, is a choice and a necessity.
S is for sensitive. I am a very sensitive person. I take things to heart and I care deeply and openly.
T is for trustworthy. I am very honest and trustworthy. I think that trust is one of the most important things, and once trust is broken, it is extremely difficult- near impossible- to repair.
1. My two focus areas are elementary education and business, and my minor is sociology. I have always wanted to work with children ever since I was in 3rd grade, so I knew eventually I would have a career working with or helping young people. I began to think that a business career path would be a more financially stable career choice, so I took several business courses, but eventually went back to focus primarily on education. When I heard about IDS, I instantly knew this was the degree for me. Not only will I have a major in education, I will also have a major in business. I felt like I got the best of both worlds and I will be able to be happy with whichever career choice I make.
2. My goal after graduation is to find a stable job and steady career working with children or young people. I want to help others and to make a difference in their lives. I think that the IDS degree will give me the opportunity to get a deeper level of understanding about my two majors and minor. I feel like the IDS degree will allow me to have options and to feel confident in the career decisions that I make.
3. I am not sure how companies look at an IDS degree. Most people whom I have talked to about my degree do not know what it is until I explain it to them. My only concern is that once I receive my degree, different companies will not recognize or honor it.
4. I hope that this mentoring experience will help me to get a better understanding of the IDS degree. I think it will be nice to have people to relate to and who can answer (or at least try to answer) and questions that I might have. I believe this experience will give me the extra boost of confidence and security in my decision to choose this degree.
Lisa it is really good to meet you. I am also seeking a degree in elementary education. I currently work in a pre-k classroom at an elementary school. I also am a part time nanny to 3 kids. I think that you are on the right track in your current degree choice and wish you the best of luck seeking your goal. What made you decide to take a sociology?
DeleteThanks for sharing Lisa!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I like that you chose awesome, if we don't think the world of ourselves how can we expect others to? You didn't have to do first and last name, but I'm glad you shared so many qualities that describe you with us.
My IDS degree has two out of three of your focus areas. Mine includes education, public affairs and a minor in Sociology. My education classes are also in elementary education and early childhood is a an interest area of mine as well.
When you speak about career choices are you thinking about becoming a teacher? If so, have you looked in to some of the ways you can become certified (since you will not graduate with teacher certification)? I know in Jacksonville where I live there are lots of options that take a year or less and some of them even allow you to complete it while working in a classroom.
Hopefully we will have some advice to offer throughout the semester based on our experiences. I am already full-time in the workforce in the nonprofit sector as Director of Research and Technology at The Community Foundation in Jacksonville, so hopefully I can help you with some advice from that side of the fence. I am certain that as mentors we have just as much to learn from all of you, Looking forward to reading and sharing more with you throughout the semester.
Mark Walker
Mark,
DeleteI am still trying to figure out exactly what I want to do once I have finished my degree. I would like to teach, and I have looked into what I would need to do after I complete my degree if that is the path I choose. I know I want to work with people and help out in some way, so at least I have some sort of an idea. Are you planning on becomming a teacher in the future? What exactly is The Community Foundation?
No. I had thought about teaching, but on my path to that career I began working in the nonprofit sector. I love it. The work is a natural fit for my interests and personality and, let's face it, the opportunities for a larger paycheck are much better than they are in the school system.
DeleteThe Community Foundation in Jacksonville is a nonprofit grant making institution. What makes us different than other grant makers is that we have very little discretionary money that we control. Almost 75% of the funding that leaves our building is donor controlled. Think of that section of our work like a philanthropic bank. Let's say you just sold a business and you need to give away a million dollars for tax purposes. Our foundation can provide a variety of options. We could provide a donor advised fund that would allow you to get an immediate tax benefit of $1 million dollars, but you would not be hampered by the 5% payout requirements, due diligence and reporting that comes with a private foundation. Or you could set up an endowed fund that would pay to the nonprofit(s) of you choosing in perpetuity. There are lots of ways we customize giving plans for people.
The other 25% of what we do is discretionary. We have fields of interest in racial equality, the arts, economic empowerment, aging adults and early childhood to name a few. Some of this money foes out through a competitive process and some of it we negotiate with partners doing work in these areas in the communities we serve. But, out biggest and most public work is in public education. We have a 10-year initiative called Quality Education for All that focuses on decreasing the achievement gap and improving the graduation rate in Duval County (Jacksonville). Lots of huge accomplishments have come out of this work over the first 6 years, you can see our website at www.jaxcf.org for more details and reports on this if you are interested.
So that sums up some of what we do. Every day is different there. You never know what new set of challenges awaits you each day, which is very appealing to me. Most major cities and regions have community foundations. there are over 400 throughout the US. We have a close working relationship with many throughout Florida and the region. In fact, I am part of a mentorship program through an affinity group that we belong to where I have been paired with Mark Brewer, The president of The Greater Orlando Community Foundation. A really brilliant guy who has taught me a ton over the past year.
Mark Walker
Mark Walker
Mark Walker (Capstone Mentor)
ReplyDeleteM is for Musical: Music has been a big part of my life since my adolescence. I spent most of my late teens and early 20s as a professional musician touring the world. Those experiences were vital in shaping me into who I am today and playing music everyday is a big stress reliever for me.
A is for Athletic: I work in a job that can be sedentary more often than not, so when I am out of work I like to stay active. You will find me at my local YMCA five out of seven days a week, running local races, and launching my kayak for a few hours out on the river from our dock on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville.
R is for stRaightforward: I know, I cheated, but I did make the R uppercase :-). Since there isn't an R word that is equivalent and I think this is an important personality trait, I needed to find a way to make it work. One thing you can count on from me this semester as a mentor is straight talk.
K is for Kooky: My tastes, humor and interests are slightly eccentric. Most of what I like is outside of popular culture when it comes to music, art, movies, etc.
Just so you guys can get to know me a little better, I spend most of my week as an employee at The Community Foundation in Jacksonville where I serve as Director of Research & Technology. I have spent the last six years working in the nonprofit sector. Like many in this sector, I wear many hats and my title doesn’t accurately describe everything I do in a given day.
I hope to parlay the completion of my BA degree into an executive VP position with my current employer or an executive position as another nonprofit in Jacksonville, FL. The next few years will include further continuing education, including a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University (which I am completing in Summer 2012) and an MPA degree from the University of North Florida (which I hope to complete by 2015).
I hope that my personal and professional experiences will prove valuable to all of you during the next eight weeks. Please feel free to ask me anything here and I will give you an honest answer. I look forward to learning just as much from all of you and your experiences.
Mark Walker
Rebekah Roberts
ReplyDeleteR: Ridiculous- It sounds strange but I love anything ridiculous, or I should say I love hearing about anything ridiculous. Strange situations, strange people, anything!
E: Easy going- I consider myself to be very laid back and can adapt to many situations.
B: Benevolent- I have a soft spot for many people, sometimes a quality that leads to my downfall.
E: Enthusiastic- I consider myself to have a lot of energy and can become very passionate about subjects.
K: Kooky- Everyone has a taste for the uncomfortable.
A: Apathetic- ...not.
H: Honest- Honesty is key to me, that and I cannot lie to save my life!
I am an Interdisciplinary Studies majoring in Humanities and minoring in Education, along with taking TESOL classes. I chose this area of study, because I thrive off learning about other cultures, and consider it my calling in life to be able to go to another country and be apart of a students life. I chose IDS, honestly because it was the major with the least amount of commitment in chose what I would like to do in life.
After graduation I most likely will go on to get my masters. The only way that I would plan to take a break from school is if I got a teaching job in another country.
The advantages of getting an IDS agree, in my opinion, is that the degree is a more rounded degree. Not just one specific area.
Two things that I want to gain from this, is being able to meet new and interesting people. Also I believe it feels nice to be apart of something such as mentoring.
Good to "virtually" meet you Rebekah. I see we share similar interests in things slightly off center, education and travel.
DeleteI spent some time in Belize on an educational research trip where I worked with elementary students in the city of San Ignacio. It was amazing and if a similar opportunity presents itself to you while at UCF or wherever you take your MA program seize it. The perspectives it will give you are priceless.
I have had quite a few friends that took the teaching English in foreign lands route. Most of them really enjoyed the experience, but did get burned out after a few years and eventually they all returned to the States and other careers. But, there are lots of opportunities to do this especially throughout Asia if it was something you really wanted to do.
Hopefully myself and the other mentors will be able to share our experiences with you in a way that is both meaningful and fruitful for you. Good luck this semester!
Mark Walker
Rebekah, first I'd like to tell you I love the spelling of your name. My sister's name is Rebecca (same name, different spelling).
Delete"B: Benevolent- I have a soft spot for many people, sometimes a quality that leads to my downfall."
I feel like this is an amazing quality. Not enough people care about others and I think we need more people with this quality in the world. I can see how caring about others and putting them first can sometimes bring you down, but remember that you are making a wonderful difference in the world and in many people's lives.
Rebekah it is good to meet you. I am like you about when I graduate this semester should I continue on and go straight in for my master's or take a break. I feel that if I quit now I will not go back. I think that if you have a calling for something then you should go for it because it takes a special person to fulifull certain goals. I wish you luck in continuing on with your education and future. Best of luck
DeleteAll the positive responses help to make this blog a very warm environment, so thank you all!
DeleteDependable. I really wanted to use loyal, but my first and last name don’t really match the words that I want to use to describe myself so I’m breaking out the thesaurus to do this bit. But above all else I have loyalty to my friends and family, which can at times backfire on certain friendships that don’t reciprocate that same notion.
ReplyDeleteAffectionate. Not so much with the overly PDA, but enough that sometimes the man card be taken away.
Virtuous. This was another one of those thesaurus words. By virtuous I mean ethical and by ethical I mean following “man code.”
Innocent. When comes to the faith I put in people.
Determined. I have had some bumps in the road, that has delayed me from graduating sooner but either way I’m almost there.
Caring. This also goes along with my loyalty, I can care too much sometimes putting other people’s needs ahead of my own.
Hospitable. I guess this comes from the Hispanic culture that I grew up in but I’m a friendly guy. If you’re ever over my house, mi casa, es su casa.
Intelligent. Should probably see confident about this. But I like to think that I’m smart in my own aspects.
Confident. When it comes to sports, knowledge of, coaching tactics, fantasy teams or history, I know my stuff. Maybe even cocky can go here, but nevertheless my confidence is something I have come to realize through my years at UCF.
A-hole. Are we allowed to swear? Sometimes you just have to be this way to get a point across. Not something that is reflected on an everyday basis.
Sizzling. Out of my family, I’m the one whose temper doesn’t go from 0 mph - 80 mph in manner of seconds when people begin to push buttons. But when someone does push me to my limit, which takes a whole lot, my temper can be one of the worst from the words I use to the amount of time that I hold my grudges.
My focus is in Education, Political Science with a minor in History. Part of the reason I changed majors from Social Science Education, is Microeconomics. For some reason or another I do really bad on the exams and have tried multiple ways of passing them. But without this class I could not finish the SSE degree. My next best alternative was IDS degree. I have taken all the other courses required of me to complete the education degree so I’m now in the process of taking this class along with another history class to finish the minor and hopes of graduating in the summer.
The ideal plan is to be able to find a teaching position within Volusia County. I’m a believer in giving back to your community so it would be nice if I got a job in the area that I grew up in. I feel that the area lacks a positive male Latino role model. At the very least I would like to give my minority students that dream of, “Hey this guy grew up in the barrio in his early life and he made it to college and is doing something valuable.” If I cannot find a job within Volusia, I’ll be happy finding a teaching position anywhere.
Earning the IDS degree can have the disadvantage of people not knowing what it is just by reading it off the resume. But like with anything if given the shot and you work hard at it, you can just prove the degree was a piece a paper you work hard for and to show an employer you’re willing to put the work in.
Not 100% sure of what to expect from this mentoring experience. My first experience as being the mentee was not all that great. During my freshman year the mentor that assigned to me through the LEAD Scholars Program was good but we just didn’t connect. I connected better with one of the other mentors because we had more in common with the frustrations of life I guess. Even to do this day, we’ve worked together on several projects as equals but I still see him as person to look to for guidance on those days that need them.
Great descriptions David, I get a really clear idea of who you are without really meeting you, which is great! You seem like a real straight shooter, which I find to be both a rare and admirable quality.
DeleteIt is really encouraging to hear that you are interested in becoming a teacher. There are not enough great male role models in the classroom. Will you graduate with teacher certification? If not, have you looked into some of the ways Volusia County might support these efforts? There are lots of programs in Duval to help well-qualified potential teachers get certified.
Hopefully we can provide a good experience this semester for you. With it just being virtual, connecting can be a challenge, but if we all keep up on the blog and keep the conversations active it could prove fruitful. I look forward to learning and sharing more with you this semester.
Mark Walker
I forgot to sign my name for the first post sorry, I did it in a rush before leaving for a class. Can i Count this as my signature for the post?
DeleteDavid Chicas
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteMark,
DeleteI actually can become certified as a teacher but not straight out of UCF. The way I can get my certification is apply to the different counties as a person who seeking a different career. Generally what they ask people to do is take the Education Courses necessary to make teaching easier the first year as new teacher along with the General Knowledge Test, Teacher Certification Exam, and Subject Area Exam. In my case since I was in the major for a good number of years at UCF I already have taken and passed all three exams, as well as completing 2 Internships with high marks in my teacher evaluations and recommendations from my Supervising Teachers and Principals. Theoretically I should have an advantage over other applicants who are changing careers. If not the other option is to apply for Teach for America because I do meet their requirements or begin graduate school sooner than expected.
David Chicas
Both great choices. We have a Teach for America (TFA) corps here in Jacksonville. While working for The Chartrand Foundation, our organization was key in bringing TFA here. As lead donors with the Weavers (the family that just sold the Jaguars) we used the $2 million commitment to rally other local philanthropists to raise the $5 million needed to being them here. TFA is heading into year 5 in Jacksonville and I have had the pleasure of building relationships with many of the brilliant teachers that came to our city for the 2-year commitment and have worked with many of them on education initiatives is our city both during and after their tenures.
DeleteIt sounds like you have most of the tough stuff out of the way and from your credentials it sounds like you would most definitely have a competitive advantage if you take the other non-TFA route. Either way you seem poised for success. I look forward to learning more about you this semester and hopefully some of the work I have done in the nonprofit sector in education reform the past six years can prove useful to you.
Mark Walker
Well I do have one question about TFA, I hope that you might know something. I still have not completely looked into the program, but just browsed through the website. I'm waiting on getting my laptop back from the Staples Technicians before really starting to look down that path. My question that I have though, is when it comes to placement, how is that decided? Are applicants allowed to give a preference to an area of the country that they want to be in or is it since I'm applying in Florida, I'll get placed in Florida?
DeleteDavid Chicas
No you get to request a region. They will want to place you where they need you most, but they do their best to accommodate your preferences. This is directly from their website:
DeleteHow do you indicate where and what you’d like to teach?
If you are invited to a final interview, you’ll be able to tell us your regional, subject, and grade-level preferences.
Step 1 – Tell us your regional preferences
If you are open to teaching in any region, you can indicate this flexibility and we will assign you to the region where you are most needed. Please note that your flexibility, while appreciated, has absolutely no bearing on admissions decisions. It is important that only applicants who are truly flexible choose this option.
OR
You can choose to select the regions where you want to teach. You must choose at least 10 regions as that will give you the greatest opportunity to be placed in a region of your choice.
One of those regions needs to be a region that we indicate as “priority” meaning there is an urgent opportunity to grow the corps there.
You will indicate if the regions you choose are highly preferred, preferred, or least preferred.
Selecting a region as “highly preferred” means that you would be excited to teach in this region. Most applicants select at least six highly preferred regions.
Selecting a region as “preferred” means that you would strongly consider teaching in this region if you were to be accepted into the corps, but might need to learn more about the region before you could accept our offer to teach here.
Selectng a region as “least preferred” means that being placed in this region would be a barrier to joining the corps. Most applicants place very few regions in this preference level.
Step 2 – Indicate Your Grade-Level and Subject Preference
Tell us what range of grade levels you’d prefer to teach: elementary (pre-K to 6), middle (6-9), or high school (9-12) and indicate your preference to teach each subject. You may also indicate that you would like your subject and grade-level preferences to outweigh your regional preferences. Learn more about how certification works.
Step 3 – Let Us Know about Special Circumstances
A limited number of corps members have unique circumstances impacting their regional assignment. These special circumstances can include: a spouse or domestic partner who has a lack of flexibility due to employment, a role as primary caregiver for an elderly, young, or sick family member, or a serious medical condition that requires assignment to a specific region. You’ll have the chance to let us know if you have these special circumstances.
Step 4 – Identify Institute Conflicts
Identify any unresolvable scheduling conflicts during our summer institutes, which you must attend in its entirety to join the corps. We will only be able to consider a limited number of events in your assignment, such as: a corps member's own wedding, a late graduation date, or a contractual obligation.
When do you find out your regional and teaching assignment?
If you are admitted to the corps, you will receive details about where you’ll teach and what subject and grade level you’re tentatively assigned to teach when you receive your admissions notification.
Mark Walker
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI removed this because the alignment was driving me nuts!
DeleteI'm Justiss Wilder (By the way, three "s'" in a name is really hard to do, so bear with me.) Haha.
ReplyDeleteJubilant. Not in a creepy-kind-of-way, but I am definitely a
happy, enthusiastic, humorous (see, none of those adjectives
start with the letters I need for my name, lol) person.
Uniform. I don't necessarily mean this word in a cookie-cutter way,
but more in a purposefully organized way. I love to get
things done!
Smart. So, this sounds egotistical, but it's not. I work hard to
make sure I get the grades I want; thus making me smarter,
lol.
Truthful. Some people get the wrong idea when others say, "truthful,"
but my anticipated meaning is that, while I employ tact, I
do not believe in dishonestly and un-accountability, so if
one asks my opinion know that I will kindly tell you what
I think!
Ideal. One of my many traits in which people make fun of me is my
fun, but truly honest ideologies of life, in which I believe
every person has something unique about them. Often times I
tend to believe in theoretical ideas more than practicality,
but it's ok for me to chase rainbows and butterflies. :-)
Smooth. As my grandmother says, "Justiss, you sure do have the gift
of the gab." Haha, I am quite easy around others, and I LOVE
to talk. I'm good, although there's always somewhere better,
with words and people!
Spirited. When I believe in something, it's go time! I stand firm in my
beliefs, and make sure not to offend others by relentlessly
throwing how I feel in their faces. Live and let live!
1. My two majors are psychology and the Humanities with a minor in English literature. I choose these areas because I love psychology but don't aspire to be a clinician or researcher; I want to expand my horizons of other cultures with Humanites, but I don't know what to do with this option professionally; I truly want to teach English, and these areas all seem to overlap in the various courses I've taken over the past couple years. These areas are of intense interest to me, refer to "Spirited" in the above activity. :) I chose IDS over other degree options for two reasons: 1) My goals are primarily to pursue academia, and 2) I couldn't decide or limit myself (I felt) to only one discipline. I feel only one area of learning limits the synthesis of academic learning.
2. I plan on taking the GRE next year (I'm currently a junior)and attending graduate school in either English literature or IDS. I bartend at Fridays, so I'll have money while learning, lol. I know IDS will help me achieve these goals as if I decide to teach English I will need "x" amount of hours in the graduate level to teach specific classes. In addition, I can open the range of teaching collegiate classes if I have additional studies in other classes (Humanites).
3. I don't particularly see any disadvantages to an IDS degree other than what others' perceptions of this degree means. I look at this academic track as rigorous and transcendent of any one discipline alone. I do think (ut-oh, lol) that once given the opportunity to "prove one's worth" to potential employers, that employer will see how effective IDS can be when applied to real-world experiences. Again, I'm excited for my IDS to propel me into graduate school at UCF!
4. I hope to gain, above everything else, an opportunity to meet people with similar goals as myself. I hope to attain friendships that last throughout the duration of my time at UCF, and to gain a better understanding of how the university setting works. I also hope to learn more about academics and the academia world. YAY!
I'm really looking forward to this term, and I can't wait to get to know all of you more.
Way to tackle the S Justiss! Your words, "Often times I tend to believe in theoretical ideas more than practicality, but it's ok for me to chase rainbows and butterflies" were something that I found particularly poignant. If it were not for dreamers and free-thinkers where would the world be? Every practicality was once someone's theory, so if you keep developing your mind in this way who knows what great theory you might come up with that will one day be practical :-) We are reading a really great book in Capstone that speaks to some of these ideas called "A Whole New Mind." I'm sure you will read it then, but if not definitely pick it up it's worth a read.
DeleteI'm looking forward to speaking with you more throughout the semester. Thanks for sharing.
Mark Walker
Mark,
DeleteThanks for the response! I completely agree with your idea of free-thinkers and dreamers! I will definitely have to check that book out after I'm done with my literary theory class. :-/ Haha. I'm looking forward to the term as well. Thanks!
Justiss Wilder
Nicole Camire
ReplyDeleteN- Nice. I find kindness to be one of the most important qualities a person can have. I strive to lead by example and be the kind of person that others gravitate to.
I- Independent. I bought my first house at age 19. I don't like putting my fate in the hands of others.
C- Colorful. This is a nice way of saying that I have no filter and I tend to say whats on my mind. I am loud and ridiculous.
O- Outgoing. I am a dancer and enjoy preformances and competitions. I take tap, jazz, ballet, and hip hop. I love to dance anf live life to the fullest.
L- Loving. I come from a pretty big family and we are all very close. I am a very affectionate person.
E- Emotional. I wear my heart on my sleeve. If my emotions are not in check, you will know. I have a very expressive face and can not hide my body language.
My area of focus is elementary education with a minor in health as well as psychology. I chose a degree in interdisciplinary studies because I change my mind it seems every few years. I did not want to lock myself onto a particular career with no chance of escape. After graduation I plan on teaching full time as well as furthering my degree. I want to earn a masters in psychology.The only disadvantage I can see is that IDS is not a widley recognized degree option. Like with any new idea or forward thinking there is a "trial" period. I have complete confidence in this degree but it will be easier to impress people with it when it is offered an accepted in universities all over the United States. I hope to gain insite to the thought process of others, I want to gain a better understanding of how others view the IDS program as a whole.
Hi Nicole,
DeleteYou did a good job of using your letters to describe yourself. I especially like the C for colorful. Sometimes it is good to just say what is on your mind. I can relate to your reasoning behind your choice to select interdisciplinary studies. I am similar in that regard because I want to try something new after a period of time. I really like how you stated you have complete confidence in this degree! That is a great attitude to have and it will shine through when speaking with future employers. It sounds like you have a good plan once you graduate and with your different ares of study you can go in several directions with your career. Best of luck to you in the future and I look forward to hearing from you again this semester.
Melissa King
Kiticha Sapp
ReplyDeleteK-Kind. I am a kind and generous person. I always willing to help others out when they are in need.
I- Interdisciplintary. I am merging my interest in education, health, and psychology to earn a degree in IDS.
T-Tough. Being a classroom teacher in a public elementary school you need to have thick skin.
I-Intellectual. I have been discribed as being an over achiever when it comes to work and projects.
C-Cool. I am up to date with the latest trends and fashions. I am coo.
H-Healthy. I am very active and I take pride in my body.
A-Athletic. I play softball (no im not butch) and I enjoy doing Zumba!
1. My focus areas are Education,Psychology and Health. I choose my areas of study because eventually I would like to become a counselor either in the school setting or clincial setting. As for the health area I believe it will be useful if I were to work in the clincial setting. I choose the IDS degree because I am able to study areas that are interesting to me and I can combine them together to further my education and have knowledge in other areas of study.
2. I plan to continue my education by getting a Master's degree in Counseling. My IDS degree will help me fulfill my degree by providing me with prior knowledge that I will use in the future.
3. I don't believe that having this degree will give me any disadvantages because it will show that I am able to work in different career choices rather than being stuck in one area of study. If I choose to work in the education field I will have knowledge of psychology and it will help me understand the learning needs of students.
4. I hope to gain more experience on how to give advice to others and see where I need to improve so that when I further my education in the master's program I will be able to use the prior knowledge of this class to correct any areas that need improving.
Denise von Gartzen
ReplyDeleteD=Determined. I am determined to finish what I start and determined to find a solution to overcome any obstacle.
E=Energetic. I have to be energetic to keep up with my six year old daughter and my busy schedule.
N=Neat. I like things to be organized so I can locate items easily.
I=Inquisitive. I like to know the ‘why’ and ‘how’ things work and operate. ‘Just because’ is a confusing answer to me.
S=Sincere= I tend to think of others first and I’m usually the one people turn to for a shoulder to cry on.
E=Ethical. 99% of my actions and decisions are based on doing the right thing. Let’s face it, were all human.
My IDS degree focuses on Healthcare Administration, Education, and Social Sciences. I originally started school with middle school science teacher in mind. I still hope to accomplish this goal. I transferred to UCF to finish my degree online and still be eligible for a teaching position. Social Science classes have helped me get a better understanding of diversity in the classroom. Healthcare Administrations classes have given me an insight to management and healthcare hardships students may be facing. This degree will allow me to have more options in the workplace if becoming a teacher is unreachable.
After graduation I plan to obtain my temporary teaching certificate. After a year of employment, I will finish my teaching classes and obtain my permanent teaching certificate. In the field of education, I believe it to be my obligation to further educate myself on new technologies and new teaching skills to help my students receive the best educational experience I can provide for them.
The only disadvantage I can see with an IDS degree is applying for a position with an interviewer that has a closed mind to IDS. In this case, I would explain the benefits as much as possible during the interview process. Mostly, there are great advantages to having and IDS degree. This degree has helped me view teaching in a whole new perspective. Teaching is not just about helping students learn, but about counseling them, mentoring them, being a superb role model, and managing the classroom. With all my areas of study, I believe I have gained knowledge that most teachers learn through experience only.
I hope to be reminded of where I came from through this mentoring experience. It’s hard to believe that I was only taking my Cornerstone class just over a year ago. I also hope to support the Cornerstone students and let them know there are many benefits to having an IDS degree.
Amanda Tellez
ReplyDeleteHere is a little bit about myself so you can get to know me a little better. My two areas of interest are Education and Puclic Afairs with a minor in Psychology. I see some of you have some of the same areas as well so we can learn from each other. I had a lot of education background when I went to the College of Central Florida. They were mostly in elementary education because I thought I wanted to be a teacher but that changed. Public Affairs interested me because I didnt know much about it. Most of those classes were in Criminal Justice which was very interesting. And as for psychology I have always been interested in that and hope some day to become a child psychologist or something along that line.
I have a huge family. I am the second oldest of six kids so needless to say family is a big part of my life. Every sunday we all get together and play volleyball and have a nice dinner with the whole family. I really look foward to sundays. I have two jobs, one at a little boutique and the other waitressing. I like them both but need more of a stable career. When I graduate I plan to go to graduate school probably for psychology. Well thats enough about me. I look forward to getting to know each and everyone of you and can not wait to learn from you as well as you learning from me. :)
Helen Haynes
ReplyDeleteH-Hopeful I consider myself a hopeful person because I have gone through a lot of things in the past two and a half years but I always feel that things have to get better eventually.
E-Eccentric I think that the norm can be boring at times, so in a lot of different fields of life I like to do what interest me.
L-Loving. I genuinely love and care for my friends and family. Many times I rather get hurt than to allow those around me to get harmed.
E-Easy going I think that life can be hard sometimes and instead of getting upset about that you need to roll with the punches and not get caught on how you thought it should be.
N-Naive I first thought that being naive can be a good thing but I am beginning to realize that only seeing the good in everyone and not realizing how bad their intentions are can be harmful.
My field of study is spanish and education. I choose these two specifically because I like working with children and I have always wanted to help them. I also love learning different languages and cultures. I don't particularly like being tied down so I felt that these fields would allow me to go anywhere because we will always need teachers and if you learn a different language you will be considered an asset not only in the U.S but in different countries as well. I originally chose IDS because in order to graduate with a education degree I would be here for another year and a half, I've been here for 5 years already -_- but I am starting to see that some of the idealogies of IDS will be very beneficial to my future endeavors because it allows me to think through problems in different ways.
I plan to start working when I graduate in order to pay some of my loans off but I do plan to come back to get a graduate degree. I'm not sure in what field though. I think that the IDS degree will allow me to solve problem in different ways that other teachers may not think of facilitating. Also I think that it gives me the freedom to venture into other fields as well.
I do think that the disadvantage of getting a IDS degree is that prospective employers will question why I didn't take the traditional route of getting my degree. I also feel that because you aren't obligated to take some of the mandatory education classes, you are missing out on some of the essential knowledge needed for the teaching field, especially when competing with other prospective employees that has specialized in that particular field.
4. In this mentoring project I hope to gain different perspectives on things I can do with an IDS degree because I don't really plan to teach for the rest of my life. I feel that this mentoring will also allow me to learn different ideas on various topics, broadening my opinions on major issues that may come up in my daily life. Finally I think that it will also be a good way to network with others which can be beneficial to all parties involved.
Helen,
DeleteThanks for sharing. Interesting that we have so many potential teachers in the group and such a strong interest in education. I imagine that was intentional on the part of our instructors. When you say you plan to start working to pay off the loans, what are your plans? Are you trying to get right into teaching? You mention not wanting to be tied down, have you considered opportunities like Teach for America or teaching abroad?
Mark Walker
Mark,
DeleteI want to teach abroad for a semester so that I can become a better teacher than start teaching at a middle school to start paying back my loans.
Activity part 1:
ReplyDeleteNick
1.) N is for Noble. I'm a person who usually does the right thing. I also will help others in their time of need.
2.) I is for independent. I have had my own apartment and bill since I was a Freshman. I know what it is like to be on your own.
3.) C is for cooperative. I can work well with others. Sometimes I prefer working in groups since good ideas can form.
4.) K is for kooky. I am a funny person. I like to joke around and have fun. But I still know when it's time to be serious.
Activity part 2:
1.) My focus areas are Education and Behavioral Science. My minor is Mathematics. I choose these three particular areas because I love math, working with people, and helping people. With Education I can help people learn mathematics. With Mathematics, I can learn all I need to learn to teach Math. And with Behavioral Science I can better understand the people and students I have to work with. I choose IDS because it allows me to better understand people then just an Math Education degree offers. With the a study of Sociology, I know what my students are going through in society.
2.) My plans after I graduate is to hopefully get a job in education. I would either want to teach Math or become a guidance counselor. My IDS degree will help me achieve this goal since it gives me the knowledge of education and behavioral science. I know students that come to me are going to need help in education. These majors will prepare me for helping these students.
3.) There is only one disadvantage that I see in my degree. Since I am no longer in Math Education, I will not be able to do my internship. This internship would have looked good on my resume. I was hoping that sometime down the road I could do some type of internship that is similar so I still have the advantage on my resume.
4.) One thing I hope to gain from this experience is being able to know what to do next. Once I get my diploma, then what? Another thing is hopefully someone can help me find an internship or something I could do that might look good on my resume. If I get answers to these questions, it would help me in my pursuit to a career.
Nick,
DeleteI can relate a lot to #4. I feel as if I am in the same position of not knowing what to do next. An internship seems to be the best thing more me to look forward to, but even then I am unsure. I hope through this we all find what we are looking for and I'm sure many of us are willing to help you out!
Nick,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I know you said you stepped out of Math education to an IDS degree, have you done the other things necessary to become a certified teacher or looked into them and made plans? I mean the test, etc. If not, have you looked into alternative certification routes in the area that you live or would like to live? Your descriptive adjectives lead me to believe you would be a good fit for the classroom and there is definitely a need for more male teachers.
Mark Walker
PART ONE:
ReplyDelete1. Brian Boelens
2. B is for Boisterous: I thrive off high-pressure situations and love living in every moment of my high-energy life.
R is for Resilient: I’ve faced many challenges in my life and have had to overcome trying times, but have become a better person on the other side for it.
I is for Intelligent: It’s not bragging if you can back it up. :)
A is for Articulate: I love public speaking, and as a legal assistant I’ve enjoy dealing with clients in face to face consultations.
N is for Nerdy: Much to my girlfriend’s chagrin I thoroughly enjoy things on the nerdy side of life such as; video games, Star Wars, and tons of novels.
PART TWO:
1. My focus areas are Biomedical Science and Letters & Modern Languages, and my minor is in International and Global Policy. My reason for choosing these areas and my reason for choosing IDS are one in the same. I started my undergraduate studies in Molecular Biology & Microbiology with the desire to go to medical school. I now have absolutely zero desire to go to medical school but a lot of science credits, so I chose IDS to help me hone in my degree for law school.
2. After graduation I plan on applying to law school, and hope that my IDS degree will showcase my well rounded academic abilities.
3.With law being such an open-ended subject with so many diverse fields I hope that my degree in IDS will give me a leg up on the competition.
4. I hope to gain some insight and words of experience from this mentoring experience. There’s always something to learn from those who have gone before.
Hi Brian! I feel as if we are a lot alike in some ways. I too consider myself boisterous and find it to be a great quality. Unlike you though I am not a fan of public speaking and tend to be a bit of a "scaredy cat" haha. Im also looking forward to learning from others through this blog. It was great getting to know you!
DeleteBrian,
DeleteGood to meet you. Have you begun to think about law school, i.e. where you will be going or what type of law you would like to specialize in? I imagine those science credits and knowledge will come in handy in some future case you work on. You have a very interesting set of focus areas, it will be interesting to learn more about how you integrate them this week. Thanks for sharing.
Mark
Tiffany Patton
ReplyDeleteTardy- No matter what I seem to always be late.
Independent – I like to rely only on myself
Funny- I’ve been told. I love to laugh and have a dry sarcastic humor.
Friendly – Open to meeting people I try to be approachable.
Animated- my face gives me away, I talk with my hands
Neat-I love things but because of that they all need to be organized and in their place.
Yankie- I was born in ohio.
1. my areas are advertising education and minor in marketing. I choose education for the fact it made my degree a bs vs ba and I didn’t have to take foreign language as taking two years in high school was such a struggle for me I dread taking another language class. I choose IDS because in 2001 I tried for a year of unsuccessful admittance to the college of advertising (the g.p.a then was 3.42 I had a 3.4) upon learning about (at the time) a liberal studies degree that I felt I could merge digital media with advertising and provide a well-rounded degree I jumped on the chance and decided IDS was for me.
2. Career. Having a solid degree will help me with the requirements needed for the next step in my career path.
3. I see both pro’s and con’s to an IDS degree, one people might think you’re not educated thoroughly in a field. The pro’s are the variety of knowledge one can accumulate with this degree and the and combining of field’s
4. Hoping to get some advice, opportunitnity's and knowledge.
Well you weren't tardy this time, right :-)
DeleteAre you still interested in going into the advertising field? If so, what are your interests in that field? You mention digital media, so that would be a creative, just curious how much you have thought about it. I graduated with an AA in Digital Media some years ago and spent some time in the for-profit world at a small advertising agency as the Art Director. I've been working in the nonprofit world for almost six years and still use these skills regularly to create brochures, flyers and video content as needed. (I wear a lot of hats with my current job, which I like). Good luck this semester. Nice to have a fellow Yankee among us (I'm from Boston, thus it pains me to use that word since I despise the NY Yankees).
Mark Walker