Reflection Paper

We did our facilitation about rice commodity in three different countries and I must say, it was good working with my team members. Rice production is one of the most important aspects to the food supply of different countries, I chose China and because China was the number one rice producing country, I thought this was really interesting. Working together in a group is not always fun, but with the right people working with you, it will be easy. My team members for this facilitation were great, which made me enjoy working with them. As soon as we knew who was in the group, we decided to exchange contact information like emails and made a Google doc to share the ideas. But the weakness would be due to the different schedules because we all came up with the idea on the internet and we only met once before the class time on facilitation day. Also, one thing that we could improve from the peer feedback was that we were not that cooperative, and we had too much information. I think that is because we only decided to work together to come up with the format of the facilitation and who should do what. There was not a group leader per-se.

My regional minister stopped the conversation and asked me, “What did you just say your metaphor for ministry was again?” I replied, with a confidence I had not felt since I left my high school math classroom, “An empowering agent of hope.” Although a year had passed since writing about my metaphors and functions for ministry, for the first time, I claimed my metaphor to my ordination council not quite a month ago. Through the lens of empowerment and hope, and within my current context of rural congregational ministry, this semester of considering issues for women in Christian ministry revealed insights, questions, and growing edges.

When I entered Roberto Clemente, I felt slightly nostalgic in that this would likely be the last time I was in the school. I finally managed to locate rooms in the building without asking for directions and started learning students’ names. Overcome with the familiar sadness I feel each June at work, I decided to make the most of my last day. The teachers in the classroom I volunteered in were encouraging and supportive of my involvement in their room, and so I told Mr. Meier I was open to working with a group of the children when they break off into groups during math.

I have learned many aphorisms, or lessons, throughout my life so far. My family, friends, teachers, and pretty much everyone has taught me something in one way or another. These lessons usually come through in a change in my life. One change important to me was getting a job. This job has given me a positive learning experience (for the most part) and an education of working with others. Well, here’s what I know about going to work.

It was Mission Sunday at First Reformed Church, sitting in a pew with my youth group when I was given the opportunity to go to Eden, Jamaica the summer after my freshman year. My youth pastor, Ross, was standing on the stage in church describing the past trip that he went on with our high school youth group that past summer. He talked about the mission work they did, the relationships that were created, and the amazing views they saw. He then went on to say that the next group of kids that were the incoming freshman through seniors. That was me! I was so excited! I really wanted to go!

Before I started this course, I was anxious and was not confident in my writing. I struggled with contractions and repetitiveness, causing me to doubt my ability to succeed in this course. But despite my worries, I was able to succeed during this course, due to all of the skills I have learned and refined. This new knowledge has made me more confident in my writing and more hopeful for the future. Throughout this course I have grown immensely as a writer and have acquired new skills, allowing me to move onto future college classes and career opportunities.

For an organizational analysis of my current context, I decided to select Option A: Adizes: Focus on Organizational Lifecycle. Everything has a lifecycle, from geological formations to people, societies, and civilizations. Of course, organizations, too, go through different stages – they grow, change, and then, they disintegrate. Even though none of this comes as a surprise to anyone, yet some organizations and their leadership may not be ready to embrace the change and still be sustainable and efficient. As Ichak Adizes boldly suggests in his book, "The challenge of leadership on any level – individual, family, organization, and society – is to change continuously and, nevertheless, always remain together" (1999, 9). As organizations go through different stages, each time they are presented with the peculiar challenges. In many cases, new difficulties cannot be resolved with the old methods and attitudes. Without abandoning their old customs, organizations can be at risk to stagnate or even fall apart as they advancing through numerous transitions. The majority of organizations would encounter similar lifecycle stages; however, they would need to develop certain abilities in order to advance forward in the lifecycle.

Over the course of this semester, there have been a number of on-campus programs that I have worked to facilitate including orientation, the Involvement Fair, “Before the Course”, Commuter Student Appreciation Week, Diwali, “Mini Commuter Student Appreciation Week”, the Graduate Student Study Break Session, and Cram Jam, in addition to several off-campus trips that I have supervised. I have found that a vast majority of programs have broadened my perspectives since I got to learn and understand many of the scheduling difficulties that make it difficult for graduate students and commuter students to attend events. However, one of the most eye-opening programs for me was the Diwali event since I got to learn more about the international student population at Merrimack, as well as how different cultures observe this special occasion. I have also attempted to attend some of the events of the clubs and organizations I have worked closely with, but given my busy schedule I have only been able to attend events hosted by the CSA and Italian Club. Nonetheless, I have found my attendance to be extremely valuable as I aim to show my support for all the hard work they continue to do. Additionally, I have also worked to get involved in the campus community through other contexts outside of my fellowship including the student conduct board and graduate student senate.

We first knew our Daughter’s was having issues in December of 2005, she was in her Freshman year in high school. We noticed that she had not been acting like her normal self. We confronted her about the problems and did not understand how bad they were. We did ask if she needed to talk someone, she didn’t want to, and we hoped she would get back to normal. We told her we loved her and didn’t want any harm to come to her and she could talk to us. I did tell her the next time I knew something was going on that she would be seeing someone to talk about her issues. The next month I received a call from the high school that she had broken through their firewall and had posted on a banded website. On this website she had posted about death and that she was cutting herself. We had noticed some injuries, but she always had an excuse for them, like falling on the ice. Before I picked her up from school after receiving the phone call I immediately called our doctor’s office told them what was going on and got her an appointment that day.

Education has always been something that I value in my life. It is the way that we can share knowledge with each other, and learn to develop as a society. Educating ourselves is the key to be able to connect with others. One of the most common ways we obtain learning experiences is through educational facilities. Every student in the classroom is there for the sole reason to complete the course to get closer to their graduation requirements. I, however, wanted more from my education.

Ever since I started going to school, my parents always expected me to perform at an elevated level. Being the only child, it was difficult for me to fulfill their wishes. As I grew up, it became more challenging as I felt like I was always being compared to my cousins for not performing as well as them.

Have you ever thought of the idea of learning? I never really understood why kids my age have to go to school. I mean, here at home you have all the free time to do anything. At school is completely different. The teachers at the schools I’ve attended didn’t teach me anything that I needed to know before high school. At my old elementary school I didn’t quite get what my teacher was teaching. They said I’m above all of the learning at my old school, but when I transferred to Green Elementary I wasn’t at the correct level. I was behind. My old school was teaching, but in their way of teaching I didn’t quite understood what they were asking, and don’t get me started with questions.

A few weeks go I was standing awkwardly in the commons area of my church. Teenagers surrounded me all of which were avoiding eye contact, absorbed into their phones. “No worries,” I thought, “It’s all good.” Then, I heard a scream, “Mrs. Farmer!” One sweet young lady grabbed a hold of me so tight I could hardly breathe, but I was so grateful. Then, I realized it was one of my students from the first full year of teaching. This young lady came from the most difficult home life, and I could hardly imagine what she went through, but no matter what–every day she came to school with a bright smile on her face. She inspired me every day as a teacher that year, and seeing her again just brightened my day. What struck me the most about our conversation was that she remembered dancing in my class and how much she loved it, and it meant so much to her. It’s truly moments like that, moments we’ve all had, that remind us why we became teachers–why it’s such a gift.

I don’t think women are truly appreciated for the fierce warriors that they are. I think the downside to my gender is the “period”. I have been plagued with that since I was nine and I can tell you I’m not going to miss it when it’s gone. One experience that I remember particularly growing up was at my high school. A male teacher suggested that math wasn’t for girls and I should go take a economics class and learn to sex something. He didn’t like my response and I was kicked out of class and happy to be away from a narrow-minded misogynistic man. I think one thing that this experience has taught me is that basic respect for people should be given to all equally not just one group.

Throughout my life, I have lived and been educated in different countries such as Albania, Italy, Germany, and United States of America. My education and the foundation of my own thinking have traveled with me from one continent to the other. Within this diverse learning experience, my learning concept was enriched with opportunities that have shaped and reshaped my thinking.