Sunday, October 11, 2015

Exploring your Vision and Community Support

Exploring your Vision and Community Support
Danielle D. Miller
Northcentral University

Exploring your Vision and Community Support
                        A government employee’s child, I am the nonmilitary version of an “army brat.”  Every two years meant moving boxes, sorting belongings to deem “worthy” or “not worthy” of relocation, a new phone number to memorize.  By seventh grade, I had lived in 7 houses across 3 states.  Education was my constant.
            In kindergarten, classes resumed following the holidays and I was fascinated to learn that the year had changed!  I had never encountered the concept of “year” before.  Asking my father how much I had to learn before I knew “everything,” he laughingly responded that the goal is to continually find new things to learn, not to finish learning.  And so my question has always been, “What else can I learn?”
            In second grade, I read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Farmer Boy.  I loved the descriptions of a one room schoolhouse.  Fascinated that children could learn without all the things that surrounded me in my own classroom – in 1987, I had multiple computers, learning centers, listening stations, a classroom library, etc. – I realized classroom supplies were not nearly as important as the teacher.  My career journey through the world of education was chosen and set.
Background and Interests
            I continued my “What else can I learn?” quest successfully.  Upon high school graduation, I attended the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, graduating with a B.S. in elementary education.  I taught math and computer applications for parochial schools for three years.  While teaching, I completed my master’s program through Gannon University, attaining my M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction.
            A nonprofit contacted me, asking if I would become museum educator for a small children’s museum.  Four years there gave me opportunities I would not have experienced otherwise: writing and administering grants, developing and operating school district in-service programs, designing educational programs for school children.
            In a public school district for three years, I began PSSA remediation.  Working with students deemed “in danger” of scoring poorly, I individualized lesson plans targeting student weaknesses.
            Five years ago, I began teaching for the community college’s mathematics department.  I love my job – I have loved them all.  And, yet, I am not where I think I will be in five more years.
Personal and Professional Vision
            I want to move from the classrooms of higher education into administration.  My training in curriculum would be an asset to the institution.  I toy with the idea of moving to the administration end of education while maintaining the ability to teach one course a semester.  I want to maintain that “touch” with students that I feel administrators occasionally forget.
Northcentral and You
            I made a promise to my three sons not to continue my education until they completed elementary school.  Contemplating doctoral programs almost as soon as I stepped off the stage holding my M.Ed., I fulfilled my promise to them – my youngest started his middle school adventures 6 weeks ago.  Now I am continuing my own journey.
            Relocating for school was not an option.  My children deserve the stability of a single district to avoid educational gaps.  I needed a program allowing me to still be the mother my sons deserve.  I was almost convinced there was not a program for me.  And then I received an NCU postcard in the mail….

The Northcentral University Doctoral Process
            NCU’s orientation was extremely helpful.  As a “pen and paper” based person, the idea of a completely online program made me leery of both quality and content.  The orientation put my fears to rest.  I also was highly impressed with the amount of support available to students at all times throughout their program.  Strangely, the most frightening thing to me is APA documentation – having lived in an MLA world.
I have decided to approach my doctoral studies in a step-by-step method.  I am going to focus on the course at hand.  I know I become overwhelmed thinking of the end goal.  I have learned to focus on just the step in front of me, not the entire staircase.
Academic and Professional Communities
            Having changed jobs frequently over the years, I am not a member of any professional communities.  My current position as part-time faculty mostly has me traveling to satellite sites, severely limiting my contact with full-time faculty.  This is definitely a lacking on my part, which I will be looking to remedy.
            During orientation, I discovered that tutoring is offered as part of the process if a student feels it is needed.  Although I may never use it, simply knowing it is available is reassuring.
The Northcentral Community
            The NCU Dissertation Center currently is very overwhelming – but with return visits, it becomes less so.  The Commons are a great source of information – I love posts from nervous students just starting.  It comforts me to know my jittery nerves are not alone.  Not having taken a class in 11 years, “Can I do this?” is a frequent thought of mine.              I tend to be the student that doubts her abilities and needs reminding that something is achievable.   
            Currently, I am blissfully ignorant of the questions that will arise during this process.  I am sure this phenomena will be short lived.  I will be trolling the Commons in search of answers before long.
Conclusion

            I believe in education for education’s sake.  I was fortunate enough to be raised in a house that valued education and I have continued that legacy within my own household.  I pursue this degree for myself, because I can and because I want to – not for a job – but for me.


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