Recruiting, End of Semester, Ice Cream Social :)

Hi everyone! How are you guys doing? Today is such a beautiful day in Philly, I guess its too bad my one class is cancelled...what a bummer :(

I just got back from the California Diversity Forum, which has one of the largest grad fairs in the country. Approximately 1500 students attended this forum and grad fair. There were 205 schools represented and some schools, such as UPenn had 5 different colleged represented: Nursing, Arts and Humanities, Social Policy and Practice, Biomedical, and of course GSE. The fair began a little a slow, but by the end of the day I had run out of several materials and enlightened so many people about the many different areas of education that Penn has to offer. Most people who visited the table were interested in an APHD program: Professional Counseling and Psychology. I was interested in visiting some of the grad tables to look at PhD programs in Higher Ed, but I was so busy with students, never got the opportunity. Ultimately, I think I will probably continue my education at GSE...

Okay, so we have about one or two weeks remaining in the semester. Prior to going away for the weekend, I was a little stressed about all the work I had to do. I brought my computer and some work materials with me and managed to finish about 50% of all I had to do! I think i just needed to get away from everything. Last week I sat in on the APHD panel discussion for accepted students, one of the topics that came up was "burn out." If I wasnt already at "burn out", I was probably on my way. Sometimes I forget, but when you are in grad school, you need to get away. Even if it means taking a mental health or going to the park...but you need time alone and away!

I'm so excited...(Sadiyah will say this is fat, but I will laugh it off) we are having an Ice Cream Social for all admissions volunteers. Throughout the school year volunteers have great with helping out at Open-Houses, Student Panels, Conferences, Receptions, and servicing perspective and new students, so now its time to really show our appreciation for these folks! Without volunteers many of the events and activities would not have been successful... THANKX GUYS

Preview Day, Finish with Student Teaching, Diversity Forum...

I missed a week of blogging (sorry Matt). Last week was kind of busy. I was searching for volunteers for Master's Students Preview day, i was finishing up student teaching, and since I am going out of town for a diversity forum, I was trying to complete as many of my 8 papers as possible (I only managed to hash out 2!)

Tomorrow is the preview day for all accepted master's students. I did not go to my preview day, so I am really interesting in seeing how this turns out. The students will have access to so much information tomorrow, I hope everyone takes advantage of it. There will be current students, faculty, and staff member "at your service." It's going to be important to get as much info as possible and to make as many connections as possible because it will be beneficial in the upcoming school year. On my first day at GSE, orientation, I was so lost. I didn't even know my division, I only knew my program, not even the acronym of my program. I was so confused my the division and program separations and the different acronyms for everything important... I feel like if I had taken the opportunity to reach out to someone and participate in some of the activities prior to orientation...I would have had a more "knowledgeable" start.

After the preview day for everyone, we have planned a Multicultural "celebration" for the accepted students of color. Basically, this is a discussion on diversity, dinner, and mingling. I definitely could have benefited from something like this before coming to GSE. If I wasn't at GSE with Sadiyah (the other GA of color and friend/classmate since 6th grade) I probably would be miserable. Coming from an HBCU, I battled with a lot of things when I started GSE, but I think we managed to keep each other "together", then when we got involved in diversity initiatives, things got a lot easier for me.

Now on to the end of student teaching...
I haven't seen this side of the philly school system since I graduated from Central High (261) in 2002. Although I had been volunteering at my elementary school on my breaks home from Spelman, I had never spent a significant period of time in the classroom, nor have I had the opportunity to really be apart of the school community until this student teaching experience. I have learned so much, anything beyond what I could learn in my courses. I pretty much know about methods and teaching styles and putting those things into practice, but I was clueless about the politics and social aspects of what goes on this school system. As a result of testing requirements I see the students at such a disadvantage. I also see the teachers suffer: so many expectations and guidelines with not enough resources and support... I have to move on to something less depressing :(

Well, I am going to a diversity forum at University of California Santa Barbara. My main purpose for wanting to go is to see what other graduate schools are doing about diversity. I hope to new and influential people that may be able to provide me with ideas and even resources I can bring back to GSE. After speaking with a few PhD students, they informed me that this is the most diversity they have seen in GSE since they have been in their programs, this means that GSE is doing something right, but what can we do to enhance the current initiatives. Perhaps, someone will even benefit from some of the things GSE is doing...

The Semester is Coming to an End

I woke up this morning to realize...THE SEMESTER IS ALMOST OVER! I have papers due, case studies to complete, research to and reviews to finish up, and presentations to prepare. This semester has been really weird, unlike first semester. First semester I felt more involved in class and with my work. This semester I feel more involved with my students and with teaching. The classes I have taken this semester are definitely more practice than theory (all practice). For me, theory is more demanding than practice. Teachers have a much easier job than students, but for some reason, I do not feel like I am ready to go into the classroom. Maybe I don't want to go into the classroom.

I am prolonging my time at GSE because I still trying to figure out what to do next. I could have easily taken three classes this summer and written completed my comprehensive portfolio, but that not what I'm doing. I'm spending more loan money, and taking one class in the fall so I will not have to pay for my portfolio class. My uncle just told me he is going back to school to get his PhD in education, so I'm like, "Hmmm, PhD? That sounds like something I could do." Then when he told me he was coming to GSE, I said, "Yes, this is something I will do!" Do I really want to do this? I don't know. I just think it would be interesting for my uncle and I to be in school/class at the same time. We may even graduate at the same time! I would also have to worry about days when I may not be "able to attend class" or days when I "need extra time on an assignment". So, as I finish up this semester, I will also ponder "My Life After RWL".