CLASSES & JOBS

I find personal blogs very interesting because I can never figure out if a person is writing their thoughts because they think someone out there is actually reading them, or if they are writing them as some sort of emotional release. I find them to be interesting, but also kind of self-absorbed. That being said, I think really good things can sometimes come from them. Writing is a cathartic release for a lot of people, so if they want to post their thoughts online, that’s great. Also, writing personal blogs is a great way to stay connected with friends and family. Last but not least, keeping a personal blog allows you to practice your writing skills (which are important for any career) on a daily basis.

Also, blogs seem to be a new kind of outlet for people to get creative in their writing. Rather than scribbling thoughts down in an old fashioned journal, people are taking to the Internet. This is especially true for young people, who have kind of developed a whole new dialect of English on-line. I like that blogs are informal and everyone can voice what they want to on the same level.

Some college students who excel in certain areas of study choose to tutor others to make some extra money. There are lots of tutoring opportunities out there, and they are easy to find. Usually people on campus or on athletic teams need tutors and are willing to pay by the hour. Also, people who need extra help in learning a second language are good candidates to tutor.

My roommate tutors a young boy after school in his home and is paid by the hour by his parents. It’s a great setup for her because she feels like she is doing something good for someone else and it’s good for him because he gets to benefit from her knowledge of math. You can become a tutor by posting signs at local elementary schools or looking for jobs in the paper. Or, alternatively, if you need a tutor, post signs or take out an ad in your local college paper. Choose college students who are more experienced and have several years of education under their belt.

I would encourage anyone with any opportunity to study abroad to do so, because you learn so much more about different cultures by experiencing them and immersing yourself in them than you would by just reading about them in a textbook. You can get a different kind of education when studying in a foreign country than from studying at home. I had the opportunity to study abroad and I came back to the States with a whole new perspective about life.

Specifically, when I hear about certain global issues and partake in discussion, I am quick to think of those people I lived with and what their concerns would be. It’s easy to think of things in the context of your own culture, but it is much more meaningful when you step outside what you know and use your experience to broaden your horizons. Traveling abroad is one of the best and most enjoyable ways to educate ourselves to other cultures, political events, foreign policy, and languages.

Teaching English overseas is a great way to travel and immerse yourself in a different culture, and usually you end up learning the native language while you’re there. There are many programs out there that make it easy to get involved in something like this. And speaking from experience, it’s worth it. I taught English in Mexico for a month, and I loved every moment of it. I picked up some great Spanish speaking skills, and I made friendships that will last a lifetime.

My friend taught English in Madagascar as part of an internship and it changed her life. She had the privilege of teaching both children and adults who would stop her on the street after classes and practice what they had learned. It was an experience that she wouldn’t trade for anything, and because of it she hopes to teach again. In addition to a great life experience, she was able to pick up some French and Malagasy as well.

A child’s brain is still developing and evolving as they grow. An essential element to assist in this growth is education. A child needs to learn how to speak, to walk, to eat, to drink, to behave, etc. Parents are responsible for their child’s education. Many people believe that they must start their child in school at a young age and many people believe otherwise. Whether the child is educated in the home, public school, or private school they will learn necessary behaviors and traits to communicate effectively with others.

Businesses and families come together with education software and educational toys. They are created with the purpose of being beneficial as well as stimulating for a child to use or play with. Children have limited concentration compared to adults. Every child is different and has a personality all their own. Engaging in a social atmosphere enables a child to learn to share and to communicate with other children.

Another trend in child education is developing talents while young. Many parents will enroll their child in soccer, swimming, ballet, dance, piano lessons, baseball, basketball, or skiing at a young age as it is easier for them to learn these talents. Some children will learn different languages as a youth so they can gain a better understanding because of their malleable brains. Awareness of a child’s surroundings for safety can also be a part of their education. As a popular belief, to live is to learn and to learn is to live.

I always opted for the less traditional whenever I took P.E. in college. Some of the more memorable were the bowling and golf classes I took. Those two have something in common–it’s all about your aim. I know just from playing Frisbee that I have a wicked hook when I throw-or swing. It makes for some interesting plays on the green, but you should see what it does in the bowling alley! I cannot ever seem to throw or follow-through without sending the object slightly-or at times considerably-off course. So I compensate, and that makes for some interesting moments as well. So, if you ever challenge me to a simple game of Frisbee, keep your eye on that flying disc-it’s not headed where you think it is. . . .

My most memorable college class was actually my very first one. Its title in the course catalog was “Intensive Writing,” but on our first day, included both on the syllabus and her lecture, the instructor made sure our class understood that she approached it as “intensive writhing.” If you are the type who is not into introspection, critical thinking, challenge or self-awareness, then her description would be correct. I’m sure I struggled, but looking back I only remember that I adored the class.

We read and wrote a great deal, but we had field trips too. I recall one outing that was designed solely to help us bond as class members. I did not mind the trust walk or anything else, but the “fall backwards and let your teammates catch you” activity taught me that I don’t trust anyone, but I will give into social pressure rather than make a scene. My fellow students did catch me, but I remember standing from that height, my back to them, fully expecting them not to break my fall. I only went through with it so I would not disappoint this teacher I revered so much. And yet, even with this little glitch, I loved the course. This one class firmly etched in my mind that, if you follow the words from Delphi, to “know thyself,” you must read and write and write and write and live and write again.