My purpose for seeking a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership is to expand my knowledge of theory and research methods as it pertains to education. I especially want to fine-tune my research skills as I feel that the importance of gaining research skills is imperative to becoming a lifelong learner and developing intellectual self-actualization as I prepare myself for a career in Education. I realize the importance of gaining credibility among my future colleagues and people that I will be serving in the field.
My view of Education is that of a reformist. I have a particular interest in the improvement of homeless individuals, single mothers and women of color. Because of my own experience with both homelessness and single motherhood, I know the feeling of helplessness as you are sinking deeper and deeper in desperation that you feel that you will never recover from it. I have seen how generations of these people have become prisoners by being illiterate and /or insufficiently educated around our city with little or no hope of getting free from their bondage. Although I have struggled hard to get myself out of this situation I refuse to forget.
I have strove to make a difference wherever I can. As volunteer at Christian Assistance Ministry I witnessed the overworked conditions that the social workers and volunteers faced. Worn from these conditions these dedicated workers had no respite from their daily work of feeding, clothing and providing funds for the homeless
It’s hard for me to come up with specific examples for why I choose to get a doctoral degree. In all honesty, it’s hard for me to come up with a reason that I went to college at all. I am the only member of my mom’s family to graduate high school. College was never talked about. When I graduated highschool, I went into the military. I knew I wanted something more than to take over my mother used car business, but I had no idea on what I wanted to do. I was medically discharged from the Navy, and then had to figure out what I wanted to do. I went to film school and didn’t like it. I then tried a semester in business, but it didn’t seem to fit my personality. I remembered a time when I tutored inner city kids in Chicago. I felt like that I was making a difference, so I decided to go to school for education. I walked into my first practicum, and haven’t looked back since. But, the question was “why am i pursuing this advanced degree?” Well it didn’t hit me until I was going for my masters degree. I was doing the work and it all seemed wrong. It seemed like what I was learning was going to hurt education, not help it. I decided then, that I would go further and try to change the trend. That technology is supposed to be a tool, not the end all. That if we make kids relient on technology it was going to kill their problem solving skills, their coping skills, and their personal relation skills. I also want to educate teacher on how to use technology to enrich
When I was 29 I was working two jobs, I had two boys ages 11 and 3, and my total income for that year was below poverty level. My goals at that time were simple. Survive, raise my boys, keep food on the table, and don’t lose it. That’s not the case anymore. I want to increase my income, find a career not just a job, and have a choice to retire. Now that’s what I’m after. Pursuing an Associates of General Studies is now my goal. I’ll be a college graduate by June 2018!
The two things that I can say without a doubt in my mind that I have done that have made a difference are my club, Irmo Arts Outreach, and my work at Lexington Medical Center(LMC) as a volunteer. Irmo Arts Outreach has left an impact more on the community than anything else, and the volunteer work at LMC has changed me more than anyone else. Irmo Arts Outreach was a dream I had, which I was able to make into a reality with the help of a few friends. What we do is go to the VA hospital to perform musical pieces for veterans, to let them know we appreciate everything they did for us and that they are not alone. I started the club, I organized our visits to the hospital, and I got permission for them to let us perform there. On our first visit
A few weeks ago, I was walking downtown, when this random came up to me and said “You in school? That’s good, that’s good. Education is important.” From the state of her hair and clothes, and the smell of her breath, I assumed she was homeless. I didn’t really pay much attention to her, because homeless people are so common in downtown Atlanta. I was just hoping that she wasn’t going to ask me for any money! After a while, I started thinking about what the homeless woman had said; “Education is important.” Growing up, I had always been taught that people who lived in the streets had been afforded the same opportunities as I had, but they had simply chosen to ignore them.
In fifth grade I was told I was going to Mexico for spring break, little did I know this vacation would be one of the most life changing experiences I have ever had. I have always been told to do thing for others and to put the less fortunate before myself. I live in a very Catholic household and my family is constantly going to serve at homeless dinners and work at local shelters but I was never truly changed by these experiences until my trip to Mexico. Through this experience I learned that sometimes giving to others benefits me more than I expected.
I am seeking admission to Concordia University-Chicago’s Educational Leadership Doctoral program. Currently I am an Instructional Leader with the Rockford Public School District. I would like to pursue a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership to further my knowledge of the required leadership traits, essential skills and educational systems, practices and laws so that I may ultimately become a contributing member of a school district’s administrative cabinet.
Over the past several months, I have volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House. I prepared snacks for the residents and provided entertainment through arts and crafts for the children who lived there. I enjoyed hearing the stories that the residents shared and learning about their struggles. I specifically cherished painting pictures with a little boy who was a cancer patient himself. His mom told me and other volunteers the heartbreak of his prognosis and the story of his ongoing treatment. During another visit to the house, I had the opportunity to meet two twin little girls from Texas who were looking forward to seeing their first snow. I believe I provided some entertainment for the children in order to give the parents some time for themselves. Also in the past, I have volunteered at several church fundraisers serving meals and clearing dishes. Not to mention, last summer I helped out at Animal Adoption Foundation, an animal shelter where I exercised the animals and cleaned up after them. Plus, for many years I have participated in a community cleanup. Recently, I have also begun helping at Roll Hill Community to provide young boys in low-income families with activities to keep them out of trouble. Finally, through school, I volunteered at Peaslee Neighborhood Center in an impoverished neighborhood working towards bettering the futures of the local children. I found each of these volunteer opportunities to be very rewarding because I believe I am making a difference in my community and other communities and improving the lives of the people I touch. Similarly, I connected with several children experiencing different issues, but nonetheless, I provided the same
I have been volunteering in the New Albany community since 2012. I started by helping out at the local church, Five14. At Five14 I watch the kids while their parents go to the service. While watching the kids I am responsible for the task of teaching these children about God and Jesus. This a a positive and productive activity because I am able to work hand in hand with these young children and I get to see how I can help change their life with the help of God. Ever since I have started helping at the church I have seen lives being changed every week because the kids are now trying to use God in their lives everyday. This then contributes back to the community because when the kids start to change and act in better behaviors at a younger age it helps them to not grow into bad habits and bad choices later in life.
As a member of this group we are given a plethora of opportunities to serve the underprivileged. One of my experiences with community commitment included going to an elementary school and assisting faculty members with overgrown foliage and installing shelves in a supply room. In addition to the opportunities provided in HES I found service through the Christian organization, Cru at OSU. During my time with Cru I got the chance to travel to Indianapolis for IndyCC. During the conference, I participated in a day of outreach where a we would donate food boxes provided by local churches to underprivileged people in the city. One couple was gracious enough to invite my group into their home and share their life stories with us. It was an eye opening experience, revealing a secondary form of service, being in the present. Service doesn’t have to be tangible, it can be conversational as
As individuals we are only a small part of a bigger picture, however we all have the capability of making a huge impact. Two years ago I created a club named Blankets for Hope, an organization that provides warm blankets for the homeless. It began when I decided to volunteer at the Rose Parade. Scattered across the sidewalks and under makeshift tents, were an untold amount of curled up bodies. Although shocking to my eyes, the city’s residents walked past them as if they were just part of the daily scenery. Refusing to accept the site, I was moved to begin Blankets for Hope. While the club is small in size, the impact it had not only the community, but on myself is large.
I’m a member of the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry program and the Seasonal Homeless Banquets program. These programs help providing food, hot meals and drink to the hungry and homeless people in New York city. This experience taught me that it is not only about providing hungry people food they need,but also it's about showing them that they are part of a larger community that recognizes them, that cares about them, and respects
My family moved to a rural small town in the Central Valley in California from the San Francisco East Bay when I was seven. The town was called Tracy. You may have passed through it on the way to somewhere else, as so many other people did. I left as soon as was possible and began attending the University of California Santa Cruz. When I left, the town had about twenty thousand residents. It now contains about ten times as many.
I have, helping children and people in foreign countries isn’t the only thing you can do to help the world. I have noticed many needs in my community, and I have also thought of ways to help these needs. You may be wondering how does helping my community change the world? Well, helping around community could inspire people to do the same and start helping out more. I want to start changing the world by providing shelter, food, and clothing around my community.
People often ask me, “Why do you it?”, they have seen me work hard being involved in the community and they just wonder. A famous quote from Mother Teresa always comes to mind when that question is asked, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create ripples.” Over the years, I have exemplified this quote through volunteering for numerous charities, such as Homeless Coalition, Big Heart Brigade and the Salvation Army. I have been a dedicated volunteer of The Salvation Amry for over 6 years. I have led their Back-To-School Bash event that focused on providing children schools supplies before school opens and worked as the assistant director of their summer music camp, where underprivilege children were
Why are you seeking a doctoral degree in public policy from Chicago Harris? What are your research goals? What do you hope to contribute to Chicago Harris?