Today I've been feeling a little under the weather, with a head cold I'm pretty sure I can trace back to Lauren's seven year old students. I resigned to spending the day in the office working on various projects and starting the daunting task of my RPP (Reflective Practice Phase) writing, aka my thesis.
My first piece: My professional bio statement.
I figure I may as well post it, even though it's quite rough, to get some feedback. I realize it's quite conversational, as most of my writing is, and wonder if it's too 'comfortable' as an opening piece for my thesis.
Would you hire me?
I have always had a passion for working with children, but it wasn’t until I moved to the Czech Republic to become TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certified, that I realized my enthusiasm for education. I firmly believe that education is the answer to many of societies ills. This includes health education, job skills training, life skills workshops, and basic primary education through higher education; the more you know, the better equip you are to handle what life throws your way.
Upon graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy, I moved to Prague to teach English. My first six months were spent teaching the CEOs and Bank Presidents of the capital how to write proper business emails, use correct grammar and master their Board Meeting rapport. While recognizing the importance of this job, in a growing and ever expanding economy, the passion was missing, so I left to teach three and four year olds at an International School. Their ability to soak up and retain a new language so quickly astounded me and their drive to learn inspired me to further my learning.
After a year with the kids I knew I had reached a glass ceiling; I needed to continue my education to better serve the children I was working with. On a chance encounter, I bumped into one of my father’s friends shortly after returning to the States. He knew I had been living abroad teaching English and that I was looking at graduate programs, so he recommended I visit the SIT Graduate Institute. The Masters in International Education’s reputation proceeded itself and I was thoroughly impressed by the school’s mission and dedicated staff.
To date I have completed all of my required on campus courses for my Master’s in International Education, which include:
Theory and Practice of International Education, Issues in International Education, International Education Policy, Practitioners Inquiry, Financial Management, French I and French II, Intercultural Communications, Organizational Behavior I, NGO Leadership, Social Change, Design and Delivery, Design Evaluation Concepts, Youth Program Leadership and Initiatives in Peace-Building.
I am three months through my six-month practicum with The Human Development Foundation (HDF) in Bangkok, Thailand, which is a non-denominational, non-profit organization, established in 1972. In short, HDF serves the poorest of the poor, living in Bangkok’s slums with 25 preschools, 6 orphanages, an AIDS hospice, a street children outreach program and many community development projects.
My work at HDF varies every day, but focuses on working with the children HDF sponsors to study in International Schools in Bangkok. Their curriculum is in English and they study with other children from South East Asia. In conjunction with my work with the kids, I have been working with the Communication Manager and Executive Director, on a variety of projects ranging from preparing oral presentations and visuals for HIV/AIDS conferences, editing PR materials, writing staff bios, communicating with donors, reviewing grant proposals and creating project presentations for potential benefactors. Most recently I have been asked to sit for an interview with Price Waterhouse Cooper, which is overseeing HDF’s new business plan. I will be talking about the strengths and weaknesses of the foundation from a volunteer’s perspective.
My time and experience here has been rich. Living in Bangkok’s oldest and largest slum, I am completely immersed in the culture. Spending every day with people from every tier of this organization has given me insight into the workings of this every changing machine. This is a well-versed lesson in intercultural communication and a look into the many ways to target urban poverty, particularly through education.
Here's to hoping I can get a job once this degree is finished!
Anyone have any organizations they could recommend in the States? Who knows, maybe I'll come back...
PeaceLoveEducation
ABA
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