As I am in the final days (9) preparing to embark on this trip of a lifetime I am struggling to find time to sit down and think about what I am truly going to get out of this trip. I was not planning on writing a blog today, however, I felt as though I needed to.
After attending several team meetings and sending countless amounts of emails to team members who have been on this trip before, I still find myself not knowing what to expect. I find myself taking the information I have absorbed over the past few months and only being able to imagine what Africa will be like, what I will truly be doing there, how I will react to being in a place where people have so little, what are the people like, will I be safe, and the thoughts go on and on.
As I was treating my clothes that I will be taking to Africa with me today, I was listening to music off of my Ipod, a song came on that I haven't heard in a while called "I Can Only Imagine." I paused for a second and listened to the words and thought to myself how perfect these lyrics were. It was a song that expressed exactly what I was thinking and feeling. No matter how much "preparing" you do and how much other team members tell me about their previous trips to Sierra Leone, I can truly only imagine what it will be like and what I "think" I will get out of this experience. One thing I am sure of is that that I am going there to learn, to grow, and to expand my horizons. In what ways will that happen? I will find out over the course of the next several weeks.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
17 days and counting...
In 17 days I will be on the plane headed to Sierra Leone. It has been easy for me to get wrapped up in my nerves leading up to this trip and forget about what I am looking forward to experiencing and getting out of this trip. I already know that this trip is going to be a life changing experience, one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
There are many things as a future teacher I hope to get out of this trip. Each day I will have the opportunity to observe classrooms at Zenith, the school where the CRC children attend. I have spent a lot of time over the years developing my philosophy of teaching. I am looking forward to comparing the philosophy of teaching in which I have created through classroom observation, field experience, and internships to the philosophies in which teachers in Africa use. Classroom management is something that I heavily focus on in my philosophy of teaching. One of my focuses will be comparing teaching techniques that teachers at Zenith have in place in order to manage behavior compared to the behavior management techniques I believe should be applied in a classroom.
Being able to show students that learning is fun and exciting is essential to how a child applies him or herself to learning and education. As a teacher however, this can not be the easiest of things to do. I am looking forward to observing how teachers in Africa engage their students in learning and how they not just motivate them to do well in school but how they encourage their students to love learning.
Something that I am looking forward to the most is possibly having the opportunity to talk to the teachers at Zenith. It is going to be such a eye-opening opportunity to be able to get insight from a teacher in Africa on how they feel about being a teacher and their experiences. Being able to talk to the students at Zenith is going to be very inspirational as well.
Throughout my college career I have spent hundreds of hours in American classrooms and have grown to understand that developing a teaching philosophy is an ongoing process and experience. Education is always changing around the world, which means educators must look at teaching as a continuing learning process. As a future teacher, every day I spend in a classroom is allowing me another opportunity to learn something new, just as the students are. I am blessed that I have the opportunity to observe a classroom not just in another state, but in Sierra Leone, Africa. I know at the conclusion of this trip that I will have learned something from the teachers I observe at Zenith and the children I interact with, all of which will have a profound impact on me as a future educator.
It is bittersweet knowing that the final three credits I need in order to complete my degree for graduation in May, will be coming from making a difference in the lives of children half way around the world. There aren't too many college students that get to experience such a thing.
There are many things as a future teacher I hope to get out of this trip. Each day I will have the opportunity to observe classrooms at Zenith, the school where the CRC children attend. I have spent a lot of time over the years developing my philosophy of teaching. I am looking forward to comparing the philosophy of teaching in which I have created through classroom observation, field experience, and internships to the philosophies in which teachers in Africa use. Classroom management is something that I heavily focus on in my philosophy of teaching. One of my focuses will be comparing teaching techniques that teachers at Zenith have in place in order to manage behavior compared to the behavior management techniques I believe should be applied in a classroom.
Being able to show students that learning is fun and exciting is essential to how a child applies him or herself to learning and education. As a teacher however, this can not be the easiest of things to do. I am looking forward to observing how teachers in Africa engage their students in learning and how they not just motivate them to do well in school but how they encourage their students to love learning.
Something that I am looking forward to the most is possibly having the opportunity to talk to the teachers at Zenith. It is going to be such a eye-opening opportunity to be able to get insight from a teacher in Africa on how they feel about being a teacher and their experiences. Being able to talk to the students at Zenith is going to be very inspirational as well.
Throughout my college career I have spent hundreds of hours in American classrooms and have grown to understand that developing a teaching philosophy is an ongoing process and experience. Education is always changing around the world, which means educators must look at teaching as a continuing learning process. As a future teacher, every day I spend in a classroom is allowing me another opportunity to learn something new, just as the students are. I am blessed that I have the opportunity to observe a classroom not just in another state, but in Sierra Leone, Africa. I know at the conclusion of this trip that I will have learned something from the teachers I observe at Zenith and the children I interact with, all of which will have a profound impact on me as a future educator.
It is bittersweet knowing that the final three credits I need in order to complete my degree for graduation in May, will be coming from making a difference in the lives of children half way around the world. There aren't too many college students that get to experience such a thing.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Taking A Step Outside My Comfort Zone
In six weeks I will be traveling to Bo, Sierra Leone Africa. Yes, Africa! If you were to ask any family member or friend of mine what they thought of Lindsey Williams, "Miss. High Maintenance" going to Africa, they would laugh and not believe you. This has been the reaction from just about everyone I have shared this with over the past several weeks as I have been preparing to go on this trip. Although I am scared out of my mind, I know it is an opportunity I couldn't let down, an opportunity that will probably change my life forever.
Last semester I met Dr. Laura Horvath, a professor of mine who shared with the class, on many occasions, the work she does with the Child Rescue Centre (CRC), as the chair of the education committee. After hearing several heartwarming stories I found myself growing more and more interested in the work she did there. I stayed after class one day to find out even more about the CRC. I asked her if she could bring any students on the trip and she talked to the CRC committee and brought me an application to fill out. Not really thinking much of it, I filled out the application and turned it in. I was pretty excited but I didn't even know if I would be allowed to go and I didn't even really know much about the trip in general. Several weeks later I found out that I was chosen to join the March team on their trip to Africa. By participating in this trip I will be receiving three credits as an independent study through the preparation for the trip, the work I do while I am in Africa, and by completing a Multigenre paper at the end of my journey.
I am still learning about the CRC and the work they do there. The CRC is made up of 70 children who are orphans from the brutal diamond war that ended in 2000. This organization was created to give these children shelter, food, clothing, and ensure that they receive the best education possible. Dr. Laura Horvath oversees that these children receive and continue to receive that great education that every child is worthy of. To find out more about the CRC you can click here.
While I am there, I will be observing the classrooms and schools the CRC children attend. In the evenings I will be working with students on the CRC base where the children live, tutoring and helping some of them prepare for their college entrance exams. As an elementary education major and future teacher, I am looking forward to this experience. I am currently doing my internship in a second grade classroom. I have been sharing with the class this journey and explaining to them what I will be doing in Africa. Their enthusiasm and excitement they show makes me even more excited for my trip.
As the trip gets closer and closer the more nervous I find myself. I have never traveled outside of the United Sates before expect to Mexico and the Caribbean. Having my first trip outside of the "real world" be to Africa is an extremely scary thing. I don't like flying, so just crossing the Atlantic Ocean and embarking on that extremely long trip is a huge thing for me. When I start thinking about this trip too much I find myself going from excitement to being scared out of my mind very quickly. At times I find myself thinking about all of the things that could possibly go wrong or happen to me on this trip and it absolutely terrifies me. However, I know that I will be in good hands and among many prayers of my family and friends for the safety of me as well as the rest of my team members I will be traveling with.
This is an experience that not everyone gets to encounter in their lifetime. Growing up I was very involved with my church participating in several mission trips, spreading the word of God. When I started college I found myself not as involved anymore and struggling to find the time to do what I love, making a difference in people's lives. With graduation in May quickly approaching, I will be starting a new chapter in my life. I couldn't think of a better way to begin this new chapter. I know that this experience will change my life forever, not only as a person, but as a friend, family member, and future teacher. It is very easy to get wrapped up in the crazy everyday life we live in from day to day and forget about the millions of people around the world who need our help. I am blessed that I am able to travel to Bo, Sierra Leone and lend a hand in making a difference in the lives of these children. What an experience it will be.
Last semester I met Dr. Laura Horvath, a professor of mine who shared with the class, on many occasions, the work she does with the Child Rescue Centre (CRC), as the chair of the education committee. After hearing several heartwarming stories I found myself growing more and more interested in the work she did there. I stayed after class one day to find out even more about the CRC. I asked her if she could bring any students on the trip and she talked to the CRC committee and brought me an application to fill out. Not really thinking much of it, I filled out the application and turned it in. I was pretty excited but I didn't even know if I would be allowed to go and I didn't even really know much about the trip in general. Several weeks later I found out that I was chosen to join the March team on their trip to Africa. By participating in this trip I will be receiving three credits as an independent study through the preparation for the trip, the work I do while I am in Africa, and by completing a Multigenre paper at the end of my journey.
I am still learning about the CRC and the work they do there. The CRC is made up of 70 children who are orphans from the brutal diamond war that ended in 2000. This organization was created to give these children shelter, food, clothing, and ensure that they receive the best education possible. Dr. Laura Horvath oversees that these children receive and continue to receive that great education that every child is worthy of. To find out more about the CRC you can click here.
While I am there, I will be observing the classrooms and schools the CRC children attend. In the evenings I will be working with students on the CRC base where the children live, tutoring and helping some of them prepare for their college entrance exams. As an elementary education major and future teacher, I am looking forward to this experience. I am currently doing my internship in a second grade classroom. I have been sharing with the class this journey and explaining to them what I will be doing in Africa. Their enthusiasm and excitement they show makes me even more excited for my trip.
As the trip gets closer and closer the more nervous I find myself. I have never traveled outside of the United Sates before expect to Mexico and the Caribbean. Having my first trip outside of the "real world" be to Africa is an extremely scary thing. I don't like flying, so just crossing the Atlantic Ocean and embarking on that extremely long trip is a huge thing for me. When I start thinking about this trip too much I find myself going from excitement to being scared out of my mind very quickly. At times I find myself thinking about all of the things that could possibly go wrong or happen to me on this trip and it absolutely terrifies me. However, I know that I will be in good hands and among many prayers of my family and friends for the safety of me as well as the rest of my team members I will be traveling with.
This is an experience that not everyone gets to encounter in their lifetime. Growing up I was very involved with my church participating in several mission trips, spreading the word of God. When I started college I found myself not as involved anymore and struggling to find the time to do what I love, making a difference in people's lives. With graduation in May quickly approaching, I will be starting a new chapter in my life. I couldn't think of a better way to begin this new chapter. I know that this experience will change my life forever, not only as a person, but as a friend, family member, and future teacher. It is very easy to get wrapped up in the crazy everyday life we live in from day to day and forget about the millions of people around the world who need our help. I am blessed that I am able to travel to Bo, Sierra Leone and lend a hand in making a difference in the lives of these children. What an experience it will be.
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