Reflection Paper

Concurrent with improvement and enhancements to the Region 16 written curriculum, I will work collaboratively with building leaders to ensure that teachers implement the written curriculum with fidelity through the application of high-quality instruction. If appointed the next Region 16 Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, I will prioritize direct observations of instruction districtwide. As part of my observations, I will investigate the following:

New beginnings don’t have to start January 1. The time for a new beginning is always right now; and what better time to embrace the motto “no more excuses.”

History allows people to look back on the mistakes and victories of people in past times. Throughout studying the first half of western civilizations, it is easy to extract several key learning principles for the Christian life. All of these principles have to do with the way a Christian should live their life. From the readings and discussions, I was reminded of how we should live our lives by viewing all people as God would view them, with radical faith, intention, humility, and commitment. Christian community is vital for carrying each other’s burdens.

From the first day I could walk my mom started to develop my athletic abilities and attitude. She would play catch with me, kick around a soccer ball, and teach me how to dribble, all at home in her free time. I was exposed to sports quite often because her, my dad, and their friends, played coed volleyball and softball. I additionally have multiple older cousins who she would take me to watch play in high school games. Here I saw not only how the games were played; as well as what a team player and how the correct attitude appears out there on the floor. As soon as I was old enough, she signed me up for recreational sports in a neighboring town. Most of the time those teams end up with coaches who don’t know what they’re doing and my mom was not okay with that. She decided to take it in to her own initiative and coach my team that way she knew I would actually be learning the sports the correct way and making improvements. She coached me in flag football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and softball. Quite often one of my friend’s parents would help her coach. My mom led some severely successful teams in my childhood. Especially in softball where we won multiple trophies. Sometimes I would become frustrated because it seemed as if she expected more out of me than the other players and I was always getting yelled at; although, now looking back I’m thankful for all the yelling and correcting me that she did because it pushed me to be a better player.

. I never imagined myself playing sports in high school. Sports, whether it was playing or watching them, had always seemed boring to me. This changed in my sophomore year of high school. I needed something to occupy myself as I was fed up with not doing anything other than going from my house to school and back every day. It also helped that I was forced to exercise as I gained some weight the year before. This is where my interest in football began and became a part of me for the past three years.

Do we really look into ourselves? As I read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch over fall break his life story really made think: How will I accomplish my dreams like Mr. Pausch? Randy’s idea of a “brick wall” really hit me because I admire that someone believes that hardships could lead to great things if they work towards it. I want to look into myself and see what life lessons that I go by the seventeen years I have been on this planet, and how they reflect what people will remember about me.

A week before college move-in day, I had to leave behind my strenuous summer job with a heavy heart, wondering if I would ever see my kids ever again. If you have ever worked with young children, you know how exceptionally hard it is to be the perfect balance of fun and energetic, yet responsible and poised. Even though I was a camp counselor for three years, each summer felt like the first. This past summer was just as exhausting as any other year, but it was more momentous in more ways than one. Going into the summer, I knew that it would be my last- seeing that I was moving to Charlotte and I would never see that same group of kids ever again. In May, before it was 95 degrees consistently, I made a promise to myself to appreciate the experience because I would never get another summer like it.

I was 21 years old when I came to the United States and needed to work in order to help my father and relatives with the rent. Three months later, I found my first full-time job making pillow cases and mattress covers at the Navy Yard in Brooklyn, and attending evening ESL classes in a public school twice a week. Additionally, on Sundays, I went to the American Language Community Center (ALCC) in Queens. Since I came from the Dominican Republic, I was on a hiatus from college. Nevertheless, I knew that learning English was the only way back to it. Despite suffering from sleep deprivation during that time, I persevered until the day I received my admission letter.

Graduating from a school with less than 500 total students in grades Pre-k through 12, my class consisted of 19 students. Due to the modest size, most student athletes participated in multiple sports. In fact, I was on the basketball, baseball and track team going into my senior year.

On my last day with class 3-213, I had the opportunity to conduct an interdisciplinary lesson using nonfiction articles. The articles I used derived from Nonfiction News: African Animal Edition by Cecelia Margo. Accordingly, the students have been studying nonfiction for several weeks and because of this, they had previously learned the various features of this genre. Upon planning for this lesson, I took time to prepare and craft an activity that would promote collaboration and engagement. Thoughtfully, I took into consideration the children that were in the room and adapted my lesson to meet their educational needs. Thus, I decided that I was going to crafted this lesson on the premises of two ideas: (1) tiered-text differentiation and (2) the pairing of advanced and struggling learners. Going into this lesson, I knew that I wanted to ask thoughtful and encouraging questions that would enable students to integrate their prior knowledge and challenge them.

Can one semester and class really change a person? Most would not think, it’s only half a year. How much can half a year do? I thought the same thing until this semester in Mrs. Wawrzyniak’s class. This class achieved so much in such a short amount of times it’s incredible. I can truly say over these 6 months I’ve changed as a student and person overall. It wasn’t always easy or fun but I’m glad I experienced everything I did in this class. I’m going to tell you everything we did from the little achievements to the huge ones!

A fundamental lesson that stuck with me through my early years of childhood was the importance of loving to write. There are many instances that have influenced me as a writer today, including going through an immense amount of stress from AP classes, writing my own poetry, taking the 5th grade writing exam, and applying to colleges. I developed a love hate relationship with reading and writing and this was strongly influenced by my teachers, parents and tutors throughout the years.

I met with K. Beam before we left on our two- week fall break to discuss working with her for the coaching practicum and what she was interested in working on with her students.

It’s always sad to watch the semester go. You get into this routine everyday and it becomes your life. When the semester ends you get a break which is great but then you’re thrown into a whole new routine with new people. I, myself, am a very awkward person and I’m never too keen on talking to people I don’t know. It makes it hard for me to be okay with new routines, I’d rather just keep everything the same. My best interpretation of my writing would be this: I don’t know how to change up my routine. This is seen very clearly through all my essays. However, I’d like to focus on my three essays The Youngest of Five, Band Practice, and Liar, Liar.

As a college student, I go through many obstacles. Whether it’s a relationship, family, or school, I manage to surpass any issues that are brought upon me. Although I have managed to live freely with merely any problems, one issue that recently has encountered my life is my job. I work for Sprint as a retail consultant where I deal with customers everyday regarding phone issues or account issues. It’s a pretty good paying job and my manager works around my schedule. Sounds great right? So what can possibly be the issue? Well the job feels forced, meaning that I have to sell products with rules and regulations set by the company. I’m unable to sell it the way I want. I have to accommodate by their sale needs and requirements. It makes me feel that my skills are worthless and unhonest to my clients. It also seems like most of my co-workers have the freedom to sell how they want. Dealing with this issue would increase the positivity in my life drastically. I wouldn’t have to come home everyday exhausted and guilty from being dishonest and untrue to myself. It would influence who I am as a person by giving me the freedom I deserve. It would ensure a brighter future and a better working environment, but more importantly, it will ensure who I am. The four agreements presented by Don Miguel Ruiz has broadened my perspective on life and my on-going issues as well. Adapting to the four agreements will give me a chance to live my life with more freedom, peace, and happiness.