After much consideration I have decided that I should go back to school and get my Early Childhood Education degree (I have only been teaching preschool for four years). I have not been in school since graduating from Wright State University in 1997, this was going to be a challenge. I originally wanted to go back and get my Master's degree in Education, however the university I wanted to attend informed me that because my degree is in Social Work and not Education that I would need to go back to get another Bachelor's degree in Education then I could continue on with the Master's program. It seems that this university does not offer a Master's level degree for first time licensure teacher's. UGH, I didn't want to quit my job to go back to school full time for the next 6 years!
I looked at all my options for the career path that I want to take. It turns out that to eventually become a Director of a Preschool I need to have at least an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. That is only a two year degree and I can complete it on a part-time basis. So I enrolled at Sinclair Community College and today was my first day back in a classroom as a student since 1997.
In one of my classes the professor had us pair up and learn about another student and then introduce them to the class. This was a great way to meet another person in the class, especially since we would most likely be in many of the classes together. As the students are introducing each other one of them comments that her partner graduated from high school in 2008, the other student corrected her saying that she actually graduated in 2003 and she wished she was that young. Um hello, I must be ancient having graduated from high school in the 90's. Listening to everyone it was clear that I am the oldest in the class, I have the most kids, I have the oldest kids in the class and I have been married for the longest time without ever being divorced. I am even older than the Professor. I hope I can keep up with all these young people.
That will change. I PROMISE you that MANY of your upper level classmates will be older than we are, and that most of the professors are too! You'll love it...just embrace these first few days of being the wise, old owl. Love you, and am SO proud of you!!!
ReplyDeleteOne of the great things about being engaged with younger folks (and I do remember when you were one of the "younger" folks) is that you get a feel for what they are thinking, how they socialize and what they believe is important. Access to what each generation is experiencing makes you a wiser and more enriched individual and it leads to a sense of sagacity, assuming you can see through your own "prism" and get a clear vision of things as others perceive them to be.
ReplyDeleteI am very proud of you for seeing that this is what you want, taking the steps necessary to get you there and continuing to give of yourself to enrich others lives. I just think you are tops! Congrats and keep on hopping down the bunny trail!