Graduation Speech : Learning And Experience Goals

When I finished junior high school I enrolled in a training program to teach elementary students in some of the most remote regions of Mexico. I was excited about the prospect of teaching reading, writing, and mathematics to underprivileged students in areas of my country that needed education more than anything else to bring them into the modern era. I had seen the difference a few good teachers had made in my life. It was one of my earliest ideas to help the youth in my country rise above the limitations of their past and see the possibilities available to them with hard work in school.

(Graduates of Saint Joseph’s University class of 2020, I, Nicole Schall welcome you here today to this wonderful celebration. It is so nice to see all of your smiling faces together one last time. I would like to thank President Reed, the administration, and that crazy professor who almost who almost failed me freshman year for the opportunity to speak here today. The one who almost caused me not to be standing here today. First and foremost, graduates, congratulations on all of your achievements thus far. Parents, professors, friends and family you should be proud of each and every graduate sitting here on St. Mary’s lawn today. Give yourself a round of an applause. (round of applause sound effect) Can you believe it is already graduation? Time really does fly when you’re having fun am I right? I can only speak for myself, but I’m sure many will agree with me that freshman move-in day seems like yesterday. But truth be told you all have grown since freshman move-in day, not just in height, or from the freshman fifteen, you are all smarter, brighter, and ready to take on the world.)

As result of creating and implementing this artifact, I realized that the most effective lesson plans are those which initiate with the final assessment in mind. So, I applied a pre-test at the very beginning of my lessons with every different group I would be teaching to measure a starting point or the amount of pre-existing knowledge on the topics to be taught. Based on this, I planned the instruction to deliver and how to differentiate it.

I first realized I wanted to be a gifted teacher while cadet teaching a gifted class during my senior year of high school. During this time, I worked with the gifted educator who taught me throughout elementary school. I knew from my first moments in the classroom that I could not work in a field other than gifted education. The children inspired me, and the curriculum kept me on my toes. I did not realized then that my love for teaching gifted children would eventually become a love for teaching gifted educators. After having the opportunity to work with educators during professional development and conferences, I realized that I wanted to help teachers meet the needs of their gifted students.

By taking the first step and acquiring a college education I am beginning the next necessary phase towards a rewarding future. This process is indispensable in providing a means to a lucrative future for me, or anybody for that matter, who is determined to stay focused and complete the work required. By choosing to continue on to four year degree, my college education will provide me with many opportunities and clear the path towards financial security, independence and self satisfaction upon completion. I am experiencing a greater understanding about my marketable skills while I assemble a noteworthy resume. Because of the experiences I have received in college so far, I have gained a competitive advantage in the labor market. Do to the assorted experiences, classes and instructors I have had the opportunity to interacted with in college, I am prepared to work in any environment whether it is customer service in a credit union, to bartending, as well as training staff for a restaurant while I finish up my education. My college years, so far, has provided me a unique opportunity to engage in areas which I would never entertained an interest in before. At present, a college education is paramount to procuring a position in many industries. I have noticed, in many instances, a degree from college is a minimum requirement for most employment opportunities.

Growing up, all I ever heard was the word college. From the old days of kinder garden and especially up until senior year of high school my entire life revolved around what college I wanted to go to. I believe that most people see a college education as a luxury, a grand accomplishment. There’s many different type of colleges to go to; community college, state universities, and so on. For me, the biggest thing is not where I go to college. For me, the biggest thing is simply to finish my college education and be able to walk across a stage and receive my diploma. A college education is valuable to me because it will help me in life. I will benefit from a college education career-wise, financially, and personally.

As a group we decided to include a “College Success” course for freshman within out First Year Experience. Instead of making the course required, we would prefer to make the class optional and offered for 2 credits. The class would be for 50 minutes per day and either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday and available both spring and fall semesters for first-year students at High Point University. The course would be recommended to all freshman for the fall semester in order to assist in the transition to college life, but would be offered spring semester as well for students who struggled first semester with becoming acclimated to the university.

A decade or two ago, a college education was considered more so a privilege rather than a choice. Today, our society takes education for granted by opting out of it because of the expenses, the stress and many other reasons that comes with going to school. Is a college education still worth having? Arguments will continually arise that it is no longer needed to be successful in today’s world. However, research and statistics continually prove that having one will remain far more beneficial than not earning one. Your time in college is the prime time for you to explore your options, make lifelong connections, and discover your strengths and weaknesses while working to earn something that will give you the feeling of pride. Life after college is significantly better for college graduates because they attract high paying employers which in turn will help earn a higher income, not to mention the added perks that will provide security and satisfaction in life. Above all those reasons, getting an education is an example and a legacy you can pass on to your children.

It has become apparent now more than ever that having a college education is an unavoidable requisite in order to better ourselves. Every year thousands of students graduate high school and start to enroll in college. Another key factor in the decision towards obtaining a college degree is the example the young student saw at home; however, not all of the young students entering college come from a family with college graduate parents, which can play as a huge motivation in their path toward their college degree. Many people see this as the start of a new journey into the path of success since most Americans grow up with the idea that a college education will help us better our lives as well as to bring us success. According to Scott-Clayton from Columbia University, “Individuals with bachelor’s degrees earn about 60 percent more than those with just a high school diploma.” Today, we must not only acquire a high school education, but also graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. A college degree itself won’t guarantee you success, but it would give you the necessary tools and knowledge to achieve economic and personal success. In the future, the knowledge you achieved from your college education will become beneficial in plenty of ways.

At the very beginning, of when hearing about First Year Experience I was indifferent about going. I knew that if I attended FYE then I would not get my summer after my high school career. Instead, I would graduate high school and then enter school again, but sooner than others. I do wish I had a long summer before entering school again, yet living in the experience now changes my whole outlook of entering college early. There are the good times, bad times, stressful times, and the sad times. One just has to take it all in and try their best to process what happens. I, myself, has done that, and still am doing, since starting the summer program. And with every decision I make, they’re either a benefit or a toll on my body both physically and mentally.

My Father once said to me, “Work hard for four years of college, or work hard for the rest of your life.” What he meant, was that if I pour all my effort and hard work into achieving a degree during the four years I am in college, I will most likely live comfortably the rest of my life, as opposed to not having a college degree; breaking my back every time I go to work. However, the college life has many elements that prevent it from being a piece of cake, elements consisting of society 's views of college. Attaining a higher education becomes strenuous when the outlook on college begins to be highly criticized as corrupt by society. My college experience has led me to think the exact opposite of what society believes , and I am

Obtain an overall GPA of 6.5 by November 2018 to guarantee me a place into Psychology Honours in 2019 at UniSA.

In the United States, the outlook for recent college graduates seems bleak. In 2014, graduates left college with both a degree and an average of $28,950 in student loan debt (“Survey of the States” 1). In addition, over half of all millennials are having trouble saving for the future and seventy five percent were unaware of late payment charges on their credit cards (ibid). All of this builds up into the current situation in the United States, where collectively, college graduates have over one trillion dollars in debt, the second largest debt category (ibid). Now, the spending and saving of money starts at an earlier age than ever before. Students fresh out of high school are being asked to make thousand dollar investments in the

After completing this journal, I realized that my well being is reflected upon my occupations. Just a year ago, I recall how I spent majority of my time studying to get that 4.0 GPA for medical school. To obtain that goal, I did not engage in any creative or fun occupations that would make me smile. The only thing on my mind was to study from morning to midnight. That whole year, I was miserable as I failed to accomplish my goal. To make matter worse, my grandparents passed away, adding more stress. During that time, I did not know how to best respond to my situation. I thought studying hard was enough, but I did not realize others factors can prevent me from accomplishing my goals. After finishing this journal, I have realized how much I have change by engaging in meaningful occupations, sticking to new theme of meaning, and developing better habits.

I love learning, which is probably one of the reasons why I get so excited to teach for my profession every day. The other part of teaching that I get so thrilled about is soaking in information from others, constantly reflecting, seeking answers, and watching students grow. The past two years as a educator as well as a masters’ student learning about technology integration has been beneficial for not only myself, but my students as well. Through my years teaching, I have realized that my inspiration has grown to better myself for my students, as my new knowledge impacts their excitement, curiosity, and achievement. As a special education teacher, my future goal is to have students continue to grow through my own inquiry for best practices of differentiation, connecting Common Core Standards to technology tools, and to advance literacy amongst my lowest learners.