My name is Hasel, and I am a graduating senior here at CSUN. Hooray! I am 22 years old, and have plans of becoming an English teacher. English has always been a favorite subject of mine, and it is the subject I've always felt comfortable with throughout my education. Suffice it to say, I love reading and books rank very high on my list of greatest things ever made. Haha. This past winter break, I had the pleasure of reading Madame Bovary and the entire Twilight saga. Yes, the entire saga and, yes, I said Twilight was a pleasure to read. Despite the obvious reason of relating to the student population I hope to one day work with, I read Twilight because I thought it would be a breath of fresh air after a semester of reading pretty tough literature. For all its melodrama and fairytale romance, Twilight really did make me giggle like a 13 year old girl, and frankly, for a book to bring that out of me deserves just a little something. So here's me recommending that you, my blog readers, read Twilight with an open mind. Also, save your money and don't watch the movie version. It wasn't very good in my opinion.
I apologize for going off tangent, but if I'm going to introduce myself, I might as well be honest and say that I can be a little scatterbrained. I'm also pretty responsible, which brings me to my other occupation other than the full-time student status I have here at CSUN. Currently, I work at Canoga Park Elementary as a teacher's assistant. When I say teacher's assistant, I don't mean office slave or coffee girl whose duties, unfortunately, have been given to some T.A friends I know and who resent. Luckily, my position, although part time, is primarily literacy based. Because Canoga Park is considered a program improving school, T.A's were hired specifically to help certain students (considered strategic) from grades k-5 become more proficient readers. I happily took this job partly because of this goal, and partly because I wanted to see whether or not I'd like teaching at an elementary school as opposed to middle or high school. Although, I love my job and the students I work with, my experience in primary education has assured me that I'm still looking for something more in the English discipline that middle and high school could provide me.
Becoming a teacher wasn't the first career I had in mind. I've fluctuated with becoming a doctor, a nurse, a dentist, and at one point, a very desperate, angry adolescent point, I fooled around with the idea of becoming a temp or a modern day gypsy just to get back at my parents for expecting too much out of me when I was younger. I've matured since then, but what brought me to wanting to become a teacher was not only the influence of certain special teachers I've had the fortune of having, but also my affinity for reading and writing that I feel compelled to share with others especially kids. I'm not sure if I can consider that a calling to the profession, but it's something, and I'm willing to see through to it until I'm sure.
Other than wanting to become a teacher, I also want to travel. You know, see the world kind of thing like everyone else. It is something I've promised myself to do before "settling" down if settling down meant having a career, a husband, and kids. I can't think that far ahead, and I'm not sure if I want to just yet. I also want a dog. I couldn't have pets when I was younger because BOTH my parents were allergic to animal dander. My boyfriend of almost three years is a complete animal lover, and has utterly sold me on the Jack-White Fang relationship :) So, besides graduating this May, and hopefully getting into graduate school, my goal for this sumer is getting my own White Fang and not failing at raising him. Wish me LUCK!
Hello Hasel! Your job sounds really interesting and rewarding. I too have a dream/idea about traveling the world before settling down---whatever that means! Maybe as teachers we can work during the school year and take amazing summer vacations, haha. I also admire you for your "confession" about Twilight. I would like to read the books one day, also for, um, "research purposes"... ;)
ReplyDeleteHey Hasel!
ReplyDeleteI too have been reading the first Twilight book. However, I'm finding it very difficult to get into. (just being honest... don't hate me) I'm at like page 300. My friends tell me that the first book is the least of their favorites but like Harry Potter, it has a long series to set up. I'm almost done and look forward (by word of mouth) to continue and finish the series. Please tell me it gets better after the first book! We can discuss why it's moving so slowly for me if you want later ;D. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend! See you Tuesday!
Hello Hasel! Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it! :) I worked as a Teacher’s Assistant at Fullbright Elementary, and it sounds like we had very similar experiences. I loved working with the kids, but, like you I realized that I wanted to work with an older population. I felt like so much of the day was spent on discipline than actual teaching. I mostly worked with the students on improving their literacy, but I was also asked to monitor the class a lot of the time. This too was because of the behavior issues we would have.
ReplyDeleteI think that you will be have a lot to offer to your students (from what I’ve seen in our class discussions), and I’m glad you chose this career! Of course, a gypsy would have been fun too! :)
Hey Hasel. I agree whole-heartedly about traveling the world. I also agree with Alex in taking summers off to geta glimpse of countries outside our own. I was fortunate enough to go to Italy for a semester, and it was well worth the nuisance of applying, and the the school which got in the way of traveling around Europe.
ReplyDeleteI hate to just agree this whole comment, but I also enjoy reading and writing. I have and emphasis in creative writing, and there really isnt anything quite like seeing the response that your work entices from others.
Hey Hasel, I appreciate your honest and open words. I definitely encourage you to travel. I believe that there are opportunities out there and that it is rewarding to see, empathize and want to help or teach another culture.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I really love twilight. I know it maybe a little skeptical coming from a guy but the storyline largely centered on a complicated vampiric-esque love tale is really fascinating and beautiful. I would even argue that they should be on the reading list for every secondary school instructor. Since, they currently hold the interest of many of the developing adolescent youth. While I’m there should it realize I will definitely hunt down those twilight friendly bookstores if I get thru the LAUSD filtering process.
Lastly, oh, my goodness you are so awesome for even thinking about raising a wolf. I’m so in love with the idea of raising a wolf in the distant future, may god help both of us and of course major major kudos to you!~And of course you’ll be in my prayers!(lol)
Hi Hasel! I have yet to read the Twilight series, despite my mother and cousin raving to me about it. I have to admit, I have been a little narrow minded about it. I’ve already judged it as another corny vampire/romance. However, like you said it will definitely help us to relate to the adolescent reader. So, perhaps I’ll give it a shot when I have a little free time. I admire that you’re working at an elementary school. I tried it for a few months and was ridiculously tired by the end of the day. Growing up overseas, most of my teachers came from the U.S. to teach at American schools abroad. (I went to a Department of Defense school.) So, your goal to travel the world can be made possible through the many job opportunities available at international school or American schools located outside of the U.S. From what previous teachers have told me, it is an extremely worthwhile experience. I am thinking about going that route as well. See you in class!
ReplyDeleteHi Hasel! Your post did go through by the way:)I love your profile i think it is so good! I like that when you write it sounds like i am actually hearing you talk!lol Well anyway i am rambling!I'm glad to know that English is such a passion for you. I think it is really important that you do the traveling because i think like us all you have earned it. I'm also happy to hear that you didn't just give into what other people wanted for you but what you wanted for yourself. I think it is really important to follow your heart no matter what anyone says. p.s. good luck with the white fang!
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ReplyDeleteHey, Hasel,
ReplyDeleteI think you know me pretty well and it appears that we have more in common than I thought. First of all, I read all the Twilight books too; I started reading it, because I saw all the high school kids were reading it and know how hard it is to get them to read; so I thought I must be something interesting. Now I can’t say that I love them, but it’s a good story; (the movie…..well hopefully the rest of them would be better). Than there is the traveling, I grew up in Holland so traveling was easy, just take a train, but next time I want to do it alone. I love going to new places and learn the cultures and the people (maybe that’s what I’ll do after graduation). Then there is the T.A. thing; I also am a part time T.A. and I love every minute of it. As for the dog, I already have one, he is a mix of Labrador and a Pit-Bull, he also is one of the most behaved dogs I have ever seen ( never lost a pair shoes because of him, so that’s great)