As I sit here in my fuzzy purple housecoat, sipping on herbal tea and munching on apple slices, I ponder what it means to be a professional (and how awesome it would be if I had real food in my apartment).
PROFESSIONALISM...What does it mean to me? When I was asked this question in class, I was quite surprised by how stumped I was. "Umm, well, it means to be...ahh, ummm, professional." As our group talked it through we came up with some pretty good descriptive words, but I still didn't feel as though I had fully grasped the essence of the term. After spending the weekend with four of the most special people that I know, I think I have come up with a definition that is wholly my own.
My Dad is one of the most remarkably professional people I know. He is incredibly hard-working and driven. My father is the guy that every employer wishes they had on their team (unfortunately for all of you employers out there, he is a die-hard farmer who only works for himself...and my mother of course : P). It doesn't matter if it's -50 or +40 degrees celsius, my father is out there pulling calves and building bins, whatever needs to be done. If he didn't have such an impressive appetite, we might not have seen much of him as kids. He gives 110% to every job that he takes on, making sure that he gets it done right. If he's unsure of how to do something, he will figure it out. He takes his time to ensure that the job is done properly. My Dad has many impressive qualities, but there are two I admire above all:
Honesty is always the best policy. This is my father's guiding principle in life, something he preached to my siblings and I from day one. He treats everyone in his life with respect and courtesy, and in turn, all who know him admire and respect him.
Patience is the companion of wisdom - St. Augustine. My father is the most remarkably patient person I have ever known (and most likely ever will know). His calm and relaxed manner have served our family well over the years, when he has had to put up with three highly energetic and inventive children, a chronically late wife, pushy pigs, too many cows, and many other situations which I shall not acquaint others with here, but make me realize what a saint my father is. If I have ended up with a fraction of my father's patience, I am going to be a heck of a teacher, let me tell you. Nothing is going to faze this lady.
Despite her serious inability to arrive anywhere on time (luckily she's a charmer, so no one can stay mad at her for long), my mother is the person I most aspire to be like. She is thoughtful, friendly, intelligent, meticulous with detail...the list goes on and on. One of my favourite things about my Mom is that she always looks the part. She looks like a Mom. She looks amazing in coveralls and rubber boots when she's being a farmer, and she looks like a teacher when she goes to school. Image is important, whether we like it or not. Even children will judge you (sometimes the harshest) based on how you put yourself together. The best thing about my Mom, however, is how much she cares. She is an Educational Assistant, and I am pretty sure the teachers and students she works with are the luckiest ones in Manitoba. She cares about her job, about her colleagues, and above all, about the students she works with. She is constantly thinking about ways she can improve herself in regards to her work. She pays close attention to detail, and is always looking out for the best interests of her students. She commits herself to her job and the people she works for with such merit, it inspires me.
My sister. I am certain it will make her ( and her husband, our parents, our brother, most people who know her..) giggle to know that I am including her in my definition of professionalism, but she is one of a kind, and deserves this recognition. I am pleased to say there is nobody in the world quite like my sister (which is a good thing, because the world certainly could not handle two of her). Her commitment to her work is legendary in our part of the province. She will bend over backwards for her employers and the people she serves. I have seen her in action, and she really is a marvel to behold (I honestly watched her help some customers in the Credit Union one time while I was waiting for her to finish work, and I had to refrain from bragging to the rest of the people in line that the amazing teller at the front was MY sister.) She knows what she is doing. No matter what job she has decided to tackle, she takes it seriously, and does her research. Whether she is serving drinks at the bar (despite her personal choice not to consume alcohol, my sister knows every drink combination out there), advising Credit Union customers (this girl is a financial wizard I tell you, she has saved many a bank account), or arranging tables for a banquet (she has some serious style) my sister knows everything there is to know about it. Although she is undoubtedly employee of the year no matter where she works, my sister is also aware of her personal rights in the workplace. She is not afraid to stand up for herself, or for her fellow employees, when she feels something is inappropriate or wrong. She knows who she is, and what her rights as a worker and as a Canadian citizen are. In addition to many of the wonderful qualities I attributed to my parents which my sister also exemplifies, she is passionate, determined and confident. She possesses so many of the outstanding attributes I hope to one day be able to put on my "Professional Qualities" list.
Last, but certainly not least, my little brother rounds out my definition of professionalism. In addition to being one of my favourite people, he's also a great role model for professional character. My brother is always eager to learn. Self-growth and maturation are important for him, as they should be. His employer this past summer described him as a sponge: "He just soaks up everything you say, and then BAM! He's got it!" He knows that you have to evolve with the job, that you can't just get to a certain point and assume you know it all. My brother recognizes that as human beings, we are never finished learning, and he doesn't want to be! He's already looking into new programs he would like to get into after he graduates with his Agriculture diploma this spring. My brother's most apparent quality (one, which beyond him, is not a strong point in our family, I'm afraid) is organization. This kid is on top of things. His room is clean and orderly. He knows where his things are. He makes use of his agenda, and is aware of upcoming tests and projects, school events, family get-togethers, and most importantly for a university student, social engagments. He gets his sense of time management from his father (one essential component my sister and I missed out on - thanks Mom!), and never reneges on any of his commitments. My brother's best attribute (while not at the top of my professionalism list, but certainly on my "Awesome Person" or "Great Teacher" description) is his sense of humour. He has this wonderful ability to make everyone around him laugh, a skill which alludes me, but that I greatly admire.
There you have it. I have most likely created the longest definition of professionalism ever, but it's a pretty hefty subject, once you really get into it. I quite like Sergiovanni's Four Commitments to Professionalism: Commitment to Caring, Commitment to Practice in Exemplary Ways, Commitment to One's Own Practice, But Also to the Practice Itself, and Commitment to Valued Social Ends, and think that my fabulous family exemplifies all these commitments and then some.
As I put on my fuzzy purple slippers and head to the kitchen to feed my cats in the hope that they will stop ripping apart my couch cushions, I reflect on my chosen career and all of the "professionalism" that is required of me. Luckily for this lady, I am surrounded by exemplary professionals who will not hesitate to lavish me with guidance and support.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Subject Knowledge Verses Professional Knowledge
I love debates. I think they are fascinating. I love good debaters even more. There are very few people whom I admire more than someone who can argue that black is white, and manage to convince you because they are just that good at making a point.
Unfortunately, I don't have a decent debating bone in my body. I could blame it on the fact that my high school never had a debate team, or that my parents taught me arguing wasn't a very nice thing to do. Or, I could just admit that I am not meant to be a debater. I have never really been able to pick one side of an argument and stick with it. I'll feel fairly confident with what myself and my team have come up with, but usually within about five minutes I'm extremely impressed with the points made by the other team and I conclude that we should all just meet in the middle somewhere and celebrate that we are all smart and came up with good points. I've even applauded for opposing team members when they say something I think is terrific, and surrendered in the middle of a debate because I thought people were getting too passionate. Needless to say, no one really wants me on their debate team. Go figure.
For me, the question of subject vs. professional knowledge...which is more important? is no different. I think they're both essential.
Subject knowledge is incredibly important, and surprisingly I feel a lot of people don't realize this. For me personally, I wanted my teachers to be smarter than me. I wanted them to know the answers to the questions I had, and if they didn't, I wanted them to at least make an educated guess. Some would argue that in elementary school, this doesn't matter as much. I don't agree. Of course you don't have to be an expert in every subject you are going to be covering, but it's important that you know what you're talking about. I think passion about a subject falls into this category. Of course your students are going to notice if you're passionate about a subject, and your students are bound to learn more from you if you are.
A former teacher of mine was one of the best teachers I've ever had because she was so passionate. She LOVED science. She brought in animals and cool books, she showed us slides, and took us on awesome field trips. None of us were science enthusiasts by any stretch of the imagination, but that year she ignited a passion in all of us for the scientific world. She was careful to find a scientific level she could relate to all of us on: She made me feel like the coolest girl in the world because on occasion, salamanders would get into my basement. (I honestly believed that was something to be proud of until I was in grade eight or something ridiculous like that. ) After that awesome year, my interest in science gradually faded away to the point of sheer annoyance with the whole subject in my middle school years.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I once had a math teacher whom I will politely describe as incapable of doing math. She had all the essentials of teaching down pat. She knew all of the curriculum guidelines, she knew all of the tips and tricks, and she had studied the textbook thoroughly. Any administrator or colleague would tell you she was a fine example of a professional teacher. There was only one problem: she didn't get math. Now, she could use an example out a textbook, write it up on the board, and show us the answer. However, try plugging a seven in instead of a nine, and this woman's world was thrown upside down. She could struggle through what was required of her as a teacher in the subject, but she certainly didn't inspire anyone in math that year, or the next few that we were stuck with her. Some might argue that when a teacher has struggled with a subject, it's all the better for him/her to teach it to you. The teacher understands that you have difficulties, and can show you different methods to work through them because he/she has had difficulties too! This is all fine and dandy, unless the teacher is so busy trying to figure the subject out him/herself, he/she is unable to teach it to you. Or has you so confused by the end (after attemping and erasing the work to the question numerous times, and arriving at totally different answers every time) that you're really not even sure what it is you're supposed to be learning. To this day, I have a three-year blank period when it comes to math. That's not to say it's all her fault. I could have pursued math interests on my own time. I could have signed up for an extra tutorial with a willing teacher or I could have tried to learn the concepts on my own. I'm just saying, she will always be thought of as a terrible teacher in my mind, and it's not because she wasn't thoroughly educated in the professional knowledge sector.
That all being said, I really think that professional knowledge is just as, if not more important than subject knowledge. Just because you are really bright in a certain subject, or even in general, it does not mean that you will be a great teacher. Far from it. Many of the smartest people I know are terrible teachers (fortunately, most of them recognized this and have no desire to be in the teaching profession). To a certain extent, I do believe that if you have the basics of teaching down pat, you should be able to teach most subjects. For most people, it is probably much easier to take a crash course in a subject (whoops! Didn't realize that this new position included high school chemistry...I was a biology kind of kid...) than it is to take a crash course in teaching (hmmm, I've spent my whole life working in a library archiving pictures. It should be no problem for me to brush up on my teaching skills and take on this English position. I love to read, and really, how hard can teaching 23 thirteen and fourteen year-olds be?).
As our class debate illustrated, it really wouldn't work to focus on simply one aspect or the other. The best teachers are the ones able to combine both excellence in subject knowledge and professional knowledge.
Unfortunately, I don't have a decent debating bone in my body. I could blame it on the fact that my high school never had a debate team, or that my parents taught me arguing wasn't a very nice thing to do. Or, I could just admit that I am not meant to be a debater. I have never really been able to pick one side of an argument and stick with it. I'll feel fairly confident with what myself and my team have come up with, but usually within about five minutes I'm extremely impressed with the points made by the other team and I conclude that we should all just meet in the middle somewhere and celebrate that we are all smart and came up with good points. I've even applauded for opposing team members when they say something I think is terrific, and surrendered in the middle of a debate because I thought people were getting too passionate. Needless to say, no one really wants me on their debate team. Go figure.
For me, the question of subject vs. professional knowledge...which is more important? is no different. I think they're both essential.
Subject knowledge is incredibly important, and surprisingly I feel a lot of people don't realize this. For me personally, I wanted my teachers to be smarter than me. I wanted them to know the answers to the questions I had, and if they didn't, I wanted them to at least make an educated guess. Some would argue that in elementary school, this doesn't matter as much. I don't agree. Of course you don't have to be an expert in every subject you are going to be covering, but it's important that you know what you're talking about. I think passion about a subject falls into this category. Of course your students are going to notice if you're passionate about a subject, and your students are bound to learn more from you if you are.
A former teacher of mine was one of the best teachers I've ever had because she was so passionate. She LOVED science. She brought in animals and cool books, she showed us slides, and took us on awesome field trips. None of us were science enthusiasts by any stretch of the imagination, but that year she ignited a passion in all of us for the scientific world. She was careful to find a scientific level she could relate to all of us on: She made me feel like the coolest girl in the world because on occasion, salamanders would get into my basement. (I honestly believed that was something to be proud of until I was in grade eight or something ridiculous like that. ) After that awesome year, my interest in science gradually faded away to the point of sheer annoyance with the whole subject in my middle school years.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I once had a math teacher whom I will politely describe as incapable of doing math. She had all the essentials of teaching down pat. She knew all of the curriculum guidelines, she knew all of the tips and tricks, and she had studied the textbook thoroughly. Any administrator or colleague would tell you she was a fine example of a professional teacher. There was only one problem: she didn't get math. Now, she could use an example out a textbook, write it up on the board, and show us the answer. However, try plugging a seven in instead of a nine, and this woman's world was thrown upside down. She could struggle through what was required of her as a teacher in the subject, but she certainly didn't inspire anyone in math that year, or the next few that we were stuck with her. Some might argue that when a teacher has struggled with a subject, it's all the better for him/her to teach it to you. The teacher understands that you have difficulties, and can show you different methods to work through them because he/she has had difficulties too! This is all fine and dandy, unless the teacher is so busy trying to figure the subject out him/herself, he/she is unable to teach it to you. Or has you so confused by the end (after attemping and erasing the work to the question numerous times, and arriving at totally different answers every time) that you're really not even sure what it is you're supposed to be learning. To this day, I have a three-year blank period when it comes to math. That's not to say it's all her fault. I could have pursued math interests on my own time. I could have signed up for an extra tutorial with a willing teacher or I could have tried to learn the concepts on my own. I'm just saying, she will always be thought of as a terrible teacher in my mind, and it's not because she wasn't thoroughly educated in the professional knowledge sector.
That all being said, I really think that professional knowledge is just as, if not more important than subject knowledge. Just because you are really bright in a certain subject, or even in general, it does not mean that you will be a great teacher. Far from it. Many of the smartest people I know are terrible teachers (fortunately, most of them recognized this and have no desire to be in the teaching profession). To a certain extent, I do believe that if you have the basics of teaching down pat, you should be able to teach most subjects. For most people, it is probably much easier to take a crash course in a subject (whoops! Didn't realize that this new position included high school chemistry...I was a biology kind of kid...) than it is to take a crash course in teaching (hmmm, I've spent my whole life working in a library archiving pictures. It should be no problem for me to brush up on my teaching skills and take on this English position. I love to read, and really, how hard can teaching 23 thirteen and fourteen year-olds be?).
As our class debate illustrated, it really wouldn't work to focus on simply one aspect or the other. The best teachers are the ones able to combine both excellence in subject knowledge and professional knowledge.
FISH! Philosophy
* Be There
* Play
* Make Their Day
* Choose Your Attitude
The idea of FISH! is pretty basic. It's based upon the work motto of the fishmongers at Pikes Place Fish Market in Seattle, Washington. It's simple, clear, and to the point. And it's AWESOME!
Be There
This refers to the concept of being emotionally present for people. For myself, this is the key aspect of the whole philosophy. I believe it is of utmost importance that we are emotionally invested in the people we interact with daily. It is much easier to make positive progress with people if they feel you are interested in them and their well-being, and they are able to communicate and relate to you on some kind of level.
Play
This idea emphasizes being creative, enthusiastic, and having fun. Unfortunately, beyond childhood, I think many people tend to forget the importance of having fun. Something as simple as a smile can make someone else's day. Many of us are at our best when we're playing. Everyone needs to experience play, at every age. Most people will learn more when they're having a good time. Work doesn't even feel like work when you're having fun. Find ways to incorporate more fun and play into your day, you won't be sorry!
Make Their Day
This statement is all about finding simple ways to serve or delight people in a meaningful, memorable way. Doing something for somebody else simply for the sake of making them happy, and not expecting something in return. What a wonderful feeling it is to do something good for another person! Your day is bound to go a whole lot smoother if those around you are in good spirits as well.
Choose Your Attitude
This concept focuses on taking responsibility for how you respond to what life sends your way.
"I discovered I always have choices and sometimes it's only a choice of attitude." - Judith M. Knowlton. As Ms. Knowlton so brilliantly states, it's not always up to us when it comes to the things that happen in our lives. We can, however, always choose how we are going to react to these things, and that makes all of the difference. Choose to be miserable, or choose to be happy. Choose to return a rude comment from a student, or choose to compliment them instead. Anything can be super if you put a smile on your face, and convince yourself it's going to be.
One of the things that is so great about this philosophy is that it is extremely broad. It can be used to improve a workplace, a classroom setting, dynamics in a home or for relationships in general. Plain and simply, it just helps the world to be a better place.
* Play
* Make Their Day
* Choose Your Attitude
The idea of FISH! is pretty basic. It's based upon the work motto of the fishmongers at Pikes Place Fish Market in Seattle, Washington. It's simple, clear, and to the point. And it's AWESOME!
Be There
This refers to the concept of being emotionally present for people. For myself, this is the key aspect of the whole philosophy. I believe it is of utmost importance that we are emotionally invested in the people we interact with daily. It is much easier to make positive progress with people if they feel you are interested in them and their well-being, and they are able to communicate and relate to you on some kind of level.
Play
This idea emphasizes being creative, enthusiastic, and having fun. Unfortunately, beyond childhood, I think many people tend to forget the importance of having fun. Something as simple as a smile can make someone else's day. Many of us are at our best when we're playing. Everyone needs to experience play, at every age. Most people will learn more when they're having a good time. Work doesn't even feel like work when you're having fun. Find ways to incorporate more fun and play into your day, you won't be sorry!
Make Their Day
This statement is all about finding simple ways to serve or delight people in a meaningful, memorable way. Doing something for somebody else simply for the sake of making them happy, and not expecting something in return. What a wonderful feeling it is to do something good for another person! Your day is bound to go a whole lot smoother if those around you are in good spirits as well.
Choose Your Attitude
This concept focuses on taking responsibility for how you respond to what life sends your way.
"I discovered I always have choices and sometimes it's only a choice of attitude." - Judith M. Knowlton. As Ms. Knowlton so brilliantly states, it's not always up to us when it comes to the things that happen in our lives. We can, however, always choose how we are going to react to these things, and that makes all of the difference. Choose to be miserable, or choose to be happy. Choose to return a rude comment from a student, or choose to compliment them instead. Anything can be super if you put a smile on your face, and convince yourself it's going to be.
One of the things that is so great about this philosophy is that it is extremely broad. It can be used to improve a workplace, a classroom setting, dynamics in a home or for relationships in general. Plain and simply, it just helps the world to be a better place.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Why Teach?
Education wasn't always the answer for me. I wasn't a little girl who dreamed of becoming a teacher someday. Sure, it might have been a fleeting passion, right up there with a movie star, the sidekick of Indiana Jones or a pig farmer (that's right, I legitimately wanted to be a pig farmer. I love those animals). I think part of the reason I avoided admitting I was interested in teaching is because that's what everyone else said. In my graduating class of thirty-something, I believe about half of us wanted to become teachers, and the other half farmers. So I would always tell people I was going to become an astronaut or an elephant trainer, generally something one just wouldn't expect to come out of my mouth. Even as late as the third year of my undergraduate arts degree, I still had no idea what I really wanted to do, (although Faculty of Education requirements were always considered when I registered for courses). My "A-HA!" moment came randomly one week in July 2008, when the two young children I had been teaching English to in Belgium arrived with me in Canada for a visit to my family farm. The fact that these two youngsters were communicating perfectly in their third language was remarkable, but what struck me as even more incredible was the fact that they were able to do this because of me. I had been their only English influence, and now they could speak the language, after a mere eight months. "I want to do this for the rest of my life" I told my best friend, and I meant it.
So why do people teach? There are lots of plausible reasons. A desire to work with children is most likely at the top of most teacher's lists. Perhaps they've had someone who inspired them to become a teacher? Many people are extremely passionate about a subject and feel they just need to share that knowledge and love with the world. Others feel a desire to serve. An acquaintance of mine once put it very bluntly "Because of the wicked holidays of course! What other job guarantees you every weekend, all summer, a two-week Christmas holiday and a spring break? I mean do teachers even work?! This is the job for me." Unfortunately for his students, he is now a teacher.
For myself (as well as for most other teachers and aspiring ones I'm sure) there is no one reason why I feel compelled to teach. I certainly have a desire to work with children, but I enjoy working with adults as well. I think working with people is the more accurate description for me. That is one thing I have always been certain of. I am meant to have a career that involves me interacting with people all day long. I have found that my experiences working with youth have been the most rewarding for me. The two children whom I worked so closely with in Belgium changed my life, and definitely for the better.
Throughout my life I have had the opportunity to get to know so many wonderful people. A huge portion of them happened to be teachers, current or former. Now, we are all teachers in our own way, but many of the most noteworthy and inspiring people I know were actual schoolteachers at some point in their lives. When I think of my ten favourite people (excluding family), seven of them are teachers. My favourite teacher (whom I wrote about in an earlier post) has exemplified to me what a great person should be. I have learned so much from her, and she has inspired me to be a great teacher in turn.
I have always wanted to make a difference, a positive one, in my world. Even as a young girl I remember believing I could make this world a better place. I now know that the best way for me to do this is through education. I can teach others. I will pass on knowledge and help others to reach their full potential. One of my absolute favourite quotes comes from Dr. Seuss, which is slightly amusing since I didn't read any Dr. Seuss books until I was an adult (my mother wasn't a big fan of his silly rhymes and wacky drawings). "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." I do care a lot. Sometimes, I care too much, and I become so invested in what is going on that I become completely drained and end up being no help to anyone. Ultimately though, my heart is in the right place, and I am always trying to do what I feel is best.
I love a challenge, and I know that teaching is certainly going to offer me that. I know enough about teaching to know that you never know what to expect. Every day is a brand new exercise in humility, perseverance, creativity and compromising. I will have to deal with diversity in the classroom, difficult students and parents, frustrating colleagues and administrators, feeling underappreciated and overworked, misunderstood and harshly judged. I understand that teaching is not going to be easy. Fortunately, I feel up to the challenge.
So why do people teach? There are lots of plausible reasons. A desire to work with children is most likely at the top of most teacher's lists. Perhaps they've had someone who inspired them to become a teacher? Many people are extremely passionate about a subject and feel they just need to share that knowledge and love with the world. Others feel a desire to serve. An acquaintance of mine once put it very bluntly "Because of the wicked holidays of course! What other job guarantees you every weekend, all summer, a two-week Christmas holiday and a spring break? I mean do teachers even work?! This is the job for me." Unfortunately for his students, he is now a teacher.
For myself (as well as for most other teachers and aspiring ones I'm sure) there is no one reason why I feel compelled to teach. I certainly have a desire to work with children, but I enjoy working with adults as well. I think working with people is the more accurate description for me. That is one thing I have always been certain of. I am meant to have a career that involves me interacting with people all day long. I have found that my experiences working with youth have been the most rewarding for me. The two children whom I worked so closely with in Belgium changed my life, and definitely for the better.
Throughout my life I have had the opportunity to get to know so many wonderful people. A huge portion of them happened to be teachers, current or former. Now, we are all teachers in our own way, but many of the most noteworthy and inspiring people I know were actual schoolteachers at some point in their lives. When I think of my ten favourite people (excluding family), seven of them are teachers. My favourite teacher (whom I wrote about in an earlier post) has exemplified to me what a great person should be. I have learned so much from her, and she has inspired me to be a great teacher in turn.
I have always wanted to make a difference, a positive one, in my world. Even as a young girl I remember believing I could make this world a better place. I now know that the best way for me to do this is through education. I can teach others. I will pass on knowledge and help others to reach their full potential. One of my absolute favourite quotes comes from Dr. Seuss, which is slightly amusing since I didn't read any Dr. Seuss books until I was an adult (my mother wasn't a big fan of his silly rhymes and wacky drawings). "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." I do care a lot. Sometimes, I care too much, and I become so invested in what is going on that I become completely drained and end up being no help to anyone. Ultimately though, my heart is in the right place, and I am always trying to do what I feel is best.
I love a challenge, and I know that teaching is certainly going to offer me that. I know enough about teaching to know that you never know what to expect. Every day is a brand new exercise in humility, perseverance, creativity and compromising. I will have to deal with diversity in the classroom, difficult students and parents, frustrating colleagues and administrators, feeling underappreciated and overworked, misunderstood and harshly judged. I understand that teaching is not going to be easy. Fortunately, I feel up to the challenge.
My Most Favourite Teacher
Throughout my life I have been blessed with many amazing teachers. My mother and father have taught me more than anyone about life, love and learning. My friends, who are many and varied, and who all have so much to offer, have helped me to grow as a person every day of my life. I know that I had great elementary school teachers because I always enjoyed going to school, and I still remember many of them and the things they taught me. Throughout high school I was involved in numerous extra-curricular activities, many of which mattered much more to me than my actual classes. I am grateful to my voice teacher for her patience and willingness to put up with my grand ideas, to my piano teacher for her love of music and her desire to instill it in all of her students, and to my many coaches who most likely groaned when they saw my name on the roster, but who never stopped helping me to become a better athlete. In the classroom, some of my teachers were better than others, but all of them helped to shape my high school years for the better. My university undergraduate degree really helped me to appreciate all of my former teachers, and I'll leave it at that. :)
Despite the influence of so many wonderful teachers in my life, it really wasn't hard to pick my favourite one. She is one of the people whom I admire most in the world. I met her through the program I volunteer with in Brandon, of which she happens to be the coordinator.
Barb is one of the most down-to-earth, hardworking, and caring people I have ever met. She is so busy looking after, learning about, and working for everyone else, it's hard to imagine her ever doing anything for herself. A former teacher, she is the epitome of what I hope to be someday. Barb is patient, soft-spoken, and thoughtful. She is eager to get to know people, and remembers everything that you tell her. When I have a conversation with Barb, I know that she is listening to and cares about every word I am saying. This is a quality I truly admire and I find most people don't have it. Often, people are so worried about the next thing they are going to contribute to the conversation, or they are so wrapped up in their own little world (or texting, listening to music, etc.) that they hardly hear what you're saying. As my Mom often tells me, "Conversation is an art. Unfortunately, most people just don't have that skill anymore." Well, Barb has it. She is one person I could spend hours and hours talking to. She is well-read and interesting. She has great things to talk about, but more importantly, she listens.
Barb is not afraid to go above and beyond what her job requires. She is only part-time, but I know she works far more than full-time hours. Once, when I mentioned to her that she really didn't need to do this extra thing, that it wasn't part of her job, she replied "Oh it's all part of the job. Don't ever get a job working with people if you're planning on sticking to the things on your "To Do List", or the number of hours you get paid for. These things have to get done somehow, they just have to." Barb knows that it takes an extra-special effort to get a job really-well done. I've never met anyone who is more thoughtful than Barb. This woman honestly thinks of everything. I'm not sure if it's because of her many years of experience, or perhaps that she spends countless hours pondering all things in their entirety, but nothing goes unnoticed by her. It doesn't matter what anyone brings up at our weekly meetings, Barb has certainly already thought of it, and then some.
The quality I admire most in Barb is that she cares an unbelievable amount about what she is doing. She loves her job, the families that she works with, and the people who work with her. She comes to work every day with a big smile on her face even when she is having an off-day (which she must sometimes, really). She is always positive and a delight to be around. She takes the time to remember small things about people, just to make their day. Barb is working at this job because she truly wants to be there. It's certainly not for the money, or because it's an easy job.
Barb is an inspiration to everyone around her. She has taught me so much about the person I am, and the person who I would like to become. Barb has made me realize that it is possible to make a difference, and that nothing done in kindness goes unnoticed. She, and the program she so passionately coordinates, mean so very much to me. I am grateful for her ongoing influence in my life.
Despite the influence of so many wonderful teachers in my life, it really wasn't hard to pick my favourite one. She is one of the people whom I admire most in the world. I met her through the program I volunteer with in Brandon, of which she happens to be the coordinator.
Barb is one of the most down-to-earth, hardworking, and caring people I have ever met. She is so busy looking after, learning about, and working for everyone else, it's hard to imagine her ever doing anything for herself. A former teacher, she is the epitome of what I hope to be someday. Barb is patient, soft-spoken, and thoughtful. She is eager to get to know people, and remembers everything that you tell her. When I have a conversation with Barb, I know that she is listening to and cares about every word I am saying. This is a quality I truly admire and I find most people don't have it. Often, people are so worried about the next thing they are going to contribute to the conversation, or they are so wrapped up in their own little world (or texting, listening to music, etc.) that they hardly hear what you're saying. As my Mom often tells me, "Conversation is an art. Unfortunately, most people just don't have that skill anymore." Well, Barb has it. She is one person I could spend hours and hours talking to. She is well-read and interesting. She has great things to talk about, but more importantly, she listens.
Barb is not afraid to go above and beyond what her job requires. She is only part-time, but I know she works far more than full-time hours. Once, when I mentioned to her that she really didn't need to do this extra thing, that it wasn't part of her job, she replied "Oh it's all part of the job. Don't ever get a job working with people if you're planning on sticking to the things on your "To Do List", or the number of hours you get paid for. These things have to get done somehow, they just have to." Barb knows that it takes an extra-special effort to get a job really-well done. I've never met anyone who is more thoughtful than Barb. This woman honestly thinks of everything. I'm not sure if it's because of her many years of experience, or perhaps that she spends countless hours pondering all things in their entirety, but nothing goes unnoticed by her. It doesn't matter what anyone brings up at our weekly meetings, Barb has certainly already thought of it, and then some.
The quality I admire most in Barb is that she cares an unbelievable amount about what she is doing. She loves her job, the families that she works with, and the people who work with her. She comes to work every day with a big smile on her face even when she is having an off-day (which she must sometimes, really). She is always positive and a delight to be around. She takes the time to remember small things about people, just to make their day. Barb is working at this job because she truly wants to be there. It's certainly not for the money, or because it's an easy job.
Barb is an inspiration to everyone around her. She has taught me so much about the person I am, and the person who I would like to become. Barb has made me realize that it is possible to make a difference, and that nothing done in kindness goes unnoticed. She, and the program she so passionately coordinates, mean so very much to me. I am grateful for her ongoing influence in my life.
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