Experienes in Education Introduction
My passion for education dates back to my high school years. I have always been eager to experience new educational settings and to work with children. As a camp counselor at Camp Jacobson at Robin Hood for two summers, I realized that I connect very well with young children and by seeing how much they looked up to me, I was inspired to always be a positive role model for children. I was exposed to a large special needs population during my internship at the Arc. At the Arc, my most meaningful experience was volunteering at the Venture Program, teaching young adults with mental disabilities life skills, such as counting money and kitchen safety. I also got to learn about international education systems while studying abroad in Prague. During my semester in Prague, I volunteered every week at a Czech high school: Kepler Gymnasium. While there, the Czech students taught me about their schooling and how their university system works while I got to teach them about the education system in the United States along with other cultural events and practices that Americans follow. My most moving educational experience was a summer internship with South Bronx United, a nonprofit organization that advocates "soccer for social change" and works to keep kids in school through soccer. During this internship, I mentored 7th and 8th grade girls by fostering discussion on how to live a healthy lifestyle to be successful in the classroom and on the soccer field, I taught a 7th/ 8th grade class and a 10th grade class speech and debate, I coached soccer, and I chaperoned field trips. During this summer I saw how impoverished the education system is in the South Bronx and was deeply moved by inadequate instruction these children have received. My most recent experience in education is my placement for education practicum, which I completed in a 3rd grade classroom at Sauquoit Valley Elementary School. I was under Mrs. Homer's (a veteran teacher) wing and learned so much from spending 60 hours with her. My tasks ranged from grading and checking assignments, working with students who needed extra attention, supervising in the computer lab, and even leading a couple of lessons! I'm so grateful for my experience at Sauquoit Valley because I've worked with children of that age before (as a camp counselor), but never got to experience a typical classroom before this semester. Overall, these experiences range from practice with special needs individuals, to an urban education setting, and some summer fun. However, all of these experiences combined demonstrate my well-rounded experience in education and my longstanding passion for education.