This title is the title of a short story I read in my Literature class. While the story was quite shocking and uncomfortable to read (although I do recommend it, very well written, gripping, and will leave you questioning in its conclusion), the title of the story brought about a set of emotions as well.
"Where are you going, where have you been?"
I think we each have these questions looming in our minds quite constantly. How has your past shaped you to this point and how will it drive your future decisions? For me, this experience of being back at SEMO has brought these questions to the forefront of my thoughts constantly.
Looking back to where I have been, I can answer that, but the answer to the first question remains a mystery. While I had hoped that as more is added to that "where have you been" aspect, the first portion would become more clear, I remain wondering. While I enjoy not knowing exactly how my future will play out, I still wish that I could be at peace about it more. I enjoy the adventure of the mystery, but sometimes I wish I had more clues.
Coming back to SEMO with less than a year of school remaining, I am constantly asked the first question: "Where are you going?" While I see some paths that I would love to pursue, I am not sure which path I am meant to travel.
I believe that prayer and time will bring the answer to this first question.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The Goal of Education
Alright, before I start this post, there is one fact about me you must know in order to understand where I'm coming from in my comments on this topic
I was Homeschooled.
When people first learn this fact about me, they are usually surprised and intrigued. I usually tell a friend after asked about my education background. Like most of my traditional schooling counterparts, I do not introduce myself as "Hi I am Rebecca, I was Homeschooled, I'm from Missouri..." While most people would believe that Homeschooling is this all encompassing aspect that defines an individual before all other traits, this is not the case. Homeschooling is a part of who I am, but it does not define me and place me in a status that cannot be determined by any other fact of my life.
The reason that I am posting a piece about education and the philosophy behind learning is the amount of shock I have felt about the attitudes of some of my fellow students at my university towards their education. Now I am not grouping every student into this reflection, I have been surprised and challenged by some of my classmates who remind me why I love learning. I just want to bring a few observations to light and the attitude students should conduct especially at this level of education.
One of the aspects that have shocked me is the fact that students live on this internal time clock. With this clock, students will only sit half attentively for a lecture for 50 minutes. Once that 50 minutes has passed, an automatic response of shuffling papers and packing bags commences. I had a teacher today yell over the rustling saying that she still had twenty minutes of lecture time left (it was a 70 minute class). Somehow, this shook them out of their state, and they half listened once again. Once that twenty minutes passed, the rustling began again. I was quite frankly disgusted by this behavior. It was disrespectful towards the teacher to disregard the fact she was in mid sentence when the packing began. Regardless of the length of the class, if a teacher is still talking YOU LISTEN!
Every teacher at this school has devoted years of their lives to learning and to passing their knowledge of their passion to the next generation. To disrespect them by refusing to give them your full attention is abhorrent. In addition, each student is investing a considerable amount of money in this higher education. With such an investment, wouldn't you want to be attentive to every minute you are paying for?
I think a part of this behavior comes from the conditioning of learning in 50 minute blocks that is a fundamental part of Public Education. Students are told to sit for 50 minute classes, when that time is up, you go to the next 50 minutes.
I can't even describe how contrary this is to the way children learn naturally. Think about it: When you are a toddler and you are learning how to walk, there is no time determination of blocs in which you must learn how to walk. Learning this is a fluid concept: You try to stand up, you fall. You try again, you succeed. Now you try to take a few steps, you fall. You try again, you take two steps. The curve of learning is not divided in time segments. This is universal throughout your life. To implement this method of learning that for a certain span of time, you must focus on one concept and once that time is up, you do not think of it until the next time bloc is absurd
Another issue that I have with the attitudes of students (gosh this culture shock just won't leave) is belief they hold that the things they are learning will have no part in their life out of college. This idea that education is only relevant to being able to pass and get out is completely contrary to the philosophy I was taught in my Homeschool education.
With this idea of learning being a fluid concept, my parents taught me that you are continually learning throughout your life. Education prepares you for your life by giving you the tools you will need to solve any question you will be faced with or any lesson you must learn. With this idea in place, math no longer becomes the "dreaded subject" but an opportunity to look at a problem and logically find a solution. History no longer becomes "nap time" but a chance to learn from the triumphs and tragedies of the past in order not to repeat them in the future. Because my parents viewed education in this light, results weren't as important as the individuals ability to grasp a concept. Learning was not a one size fits all manufactured phase of your life, but a individual driven search for finding the application of these concepts.
I read an article today in Newsweek that was discussing the "Modern Day Homeschooler" talking about how it is no longer just the Christian farm families teaching Bible at the kitchen table that makes up the Homeschool body. There are a lot of highly educated individuals teaching their philosophy of learning to their children. I was very pleased to see that they are removing some of the misconceptions of Homeschoolers. Only then did I continue the article where the misconceptions of Homeschooling came about: "How can a kid go to college when they have depended on their parents? What about attachment issues, it's not healthy for a kid to learn everything from their parents."
Sigh
There is still a lot people need to learn about Homeschooling. I wish people focus all their concern on the social side of Homeschooling, but look at the motivations and values in regards to education that drives these students. If people weren't constantly looking at Homeschooling with concern, but rather the issues facing public educated children, I think we could learn a lot from both sides of education. I hope someday the stigma towards Homeschooling would move past the misconceptions and people would appreciate the selfless parents who choose to provide their children with the best education possible. I also wish people would see the results of what a Homeschooled education brings: A well rounded individual who loves to learn.
I was Homeschooled.
When people first learn this fact about me, they are usually surprised and intrigued. I usually tell a friend after asked about my education background. Like most of my traditional schooling counterparts, I do not introduce myself as "Hi I am Rebecca, I was Homeschooled, I'm from Missouri..." While most people would believe that Homeschooling is this all encompassing aspect that defines an individual before all other traits, this is not the case. Homeschooling is a part of who I am, but it does not define me and place me in a status that cannot be determined by any other fact of my life.
The reason that I am posting a piece about education and the philosophy behind learning is the amount of shock I have felt about the attitudes of some of my fellow students at my university towards their education. Now I am not grouping every student into this reflection, I have been surprised and challenged by some of my classmates who remind me why I love learning. I just want to bring a few observations to light and the attitude students should conduct especially at this level of education.
One of the aspects that have shocked me is the fact that students live on this internal time clock. With this clock, students will only sit half attentively for a lecture for 50 minutes. Once that 50 minutes has passed, an automatic response of shuffling papers and packing bags commences. I had a teacher today yell over the rustling saying that she still had twenty minutes of lecture time left (it was a 70 minute class). Somehow, this shook them out of their state, and they half listened once again. Once that twenty minutes passed, the rustling began again. I was quite frankly disgusted by this behavior. It was disrespectful towards the teacher to disregard the fact she was in mid sentence when the packing began. Regardless of the length of the class, if a teacher is still talking YOU LISTEN!
Every teacher at this school has devoted years of their lives to learning and to passing their knowledge of their passion to the next generation. To disrespect them by refusing to give them your full attention is abhorrent. In addition, each student is investing a considerable amount of money in this higher education. With such an investment, wouldn't you want to be attentive to every minute you are paying for?
I think a part of this behavior comes from the conditioning of learning in 50 minute blocks that is a fundamental part of Public Education. Students are told to sit for 50 minute classes, when that time is up, you go to the next 50 minutes.
I can't even describe how contrary this is to the way children learn naturally. Think about it: When you are a toddler and you are learning how to walk, there is no time determination of blocs in which you must learn how to walk. Learning this is a fluid concept: You try to stand up, you fall. You try again, you succeed. Now you try to take a few steps, you fall. You try again, you take two steps. The curve of learning is not divided in time segments. This is universal throughout your life. To implement this method of learning that for a certain span of time, you must focus on one concept and once that time is up, you do not think of it until the next time bloc is absurd
Another issue that I have with the attitudes of students (gosh this culture shock just won't leave) is belief they hold that the things they are learning will have no part in their life out of college. This idea that education is only relevant to being able to pass and get out is completely contrary to the philosophy I was taught in my Homeschool education.
With this idea of learning being a fluid concept, my parents taught me that you are continually learning throughout your life. Education prepares you for your life by giving you the tools you will need to solve any question you will be faced with or any lesson you must learn. With this idea in place, math no longer becomes the "dreaded subject" but an opportunity to look at a problem and logically find a solution. History no longer becomes "nap time" but a chance to learn from the triumphs and tragedies of the past in order not to repeat them in the future. Because my parents viewed education in this light, results weren't as important as the individuals ability to grasp a concept. Learning was not a one size fits all manufactured phase of your life, but a individual driven search for finding the application of these concepts.
I read an article today in Newsweek that was discussing the "Modern Day Homeschooler" talking about how it is no longer just the Christian farm families teaching Bible at the kitchen table that makes up the Homeschool body. There are a lot of highly educated individuals teaching their philosophy of learning to their children. I was very pleased to see that they are removing some of the misconceptions of Homeschoolers. Only then did I continue the article where the misconceptions of Homeschooling came about: "How can a kid go to college when they have depended on their parents? What about attachment issues, it's not healthy for a kid to learn everything from their parents."
Sigh
There is still a lot people need to learn about Homeschooling. I wish people focus all their concern on the social side of Homeschooling, but look at the motivations and values in regards to education that drives these students. If people weren't constantly looking at Homeschooling with concern, but rather the issues facing public educated children, I think we could learn a lot from both sides of education. I hope someday the stigma towards Homeschooling would move past the misconceptions and people would appreciate the selfless parents who choose to provide their children with the best education possible. I also wish people would see the results of what a Homeschooled education brings: A well rounded individual who loves to learn.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Technology Revolution
This past week has been quite fascinating for several reasons. My classes are picking up so we are discussing more substance which is exciting. So far I am really enjoying my World Politics, Mythology, and Senior Seminar courses.
I reconnected with my home church here in Cape. I am playing bells again with the bell choir here at St Andrews and reunited with my church family. While some things have changed, St Andrews is very much the same and I am happy for that.
Speaking of change, here's the big thing that has really revived any undertones of culture shock: I am now one of the old people here at school! It is strange to have left SEMO as an underclassman, the baby. Now I'm an upperclassman and everywhere I go I see students that look way too young to be in college. It has been especially weird since I am taking one of my Senior Seminars, where everyone is in there last semester, and on the other side of the spectrum, I'm finishing my general courses, where everyone is underclassmen. It has been an interesting contrast, but it makes me feel in limbo: I'm not quite to that graduating stage but I feel out of place among all the Underclassmen.
In addition, I am in a situation that I never experienced while in Korea: I have no means of convenient transportation. I do not own a car, there is no public trans like in Korea, and it can be difficult to coordinate rides with other students given our schedules. I like my independence and to not have to inconvenience others in order to help me. It is one of the things I really miss about Korea: I could jump on a bus or train and go anywhere anytime. I miss that freedom.
It has also been difficult to be surrounded by English 24/7. I miss the challenge of constantly trying to figure out what was being said. Now anytime I hear a foreign student I am relieved by that touch of diversity. Fortunately, I have met a Korean girl on my floor here at school. She is very sweet and is willing to help me with my Korean. I have also met several other Asian students, who have been so happy to meet an American who knows about J-pop and Cantonese movies. I hope that I can continue to learn and appreciate other cultures while studying here in the USA.
One of the most interesting aspects of this week was the uproar over SOPA and PIPA by the Internet Community. I first heard about these bills a few weeks ago, but it wasn't until I discussed these bills with a few well informed friends that I fully understood the severity of these proposals and the consequences they would hold. I was relieved to see they did not pass, however, I am sure that more bills like them will be written in the future.
Basically, they were protections of copyrighted material on the internet. While that is a noble thing to defend, the issue was that they would take it to such an extreme that it would shut down virtually every site that is used to connect and share information. The internet is still something that we don't fully understand, and it is dangerous to write legislation concerning an entity that is developing at a rapid rate and has shown potential to revolutionize the way we communicate.
In my Organizational Communications class this week, we discussed the implications of emerging technology and social media in the way individuals communicate. My professor used the example of the printing press as the first medium of media that deemed the previous media obsolete (handwritten books). I had never viewed the invention of the printing press as the first step to today's internet revolution, but it is the first monumental shift in media in history. My teacher also discussed the rapid rate in which both computers and the internet is changing. He talked about how this will revolutionize the way we read (ebooks replacing traditional books, even textbooks, our school will shift to ebooks within the next five or so years), the way we connect with professionals and individuals, the way revolutions begin (as evidence of the Arab Spring from last year), the list goes on. I do not and I don't think the majority of the world fully understands the implications of these new technologies and just how fast they are changing. It will be interesting to see within the next five years just how much changes compared to 2012...
I reconnected with my home church here in Cape. I am playing bells again with the bell choir here at St Andrews and reunited with my church family. While some things have changed, St Andrews is very much the same and I am happy for that.
Speaking of change, here's the big thing that has really revived any undertones of culture shock: I am now one of the old people here at school! It is strange to have left SEMO as an underclassman, the baby. Now I'm an upperclassman and everywhere I go I see students that look way too young to be in college. It has been especially weird since I am taking one of my Senior Seminars, where everyone is in there last semester, and on the other side of the spectrum, I'm finishing my general courses, where everyone is underclassmen. It has been an interesting contrast, but it makes me feel in limbo: I'm not quite to that graduating stage but I feel out of place among all the Underclassmen.
In addition, I am in a situation that I never experienced while in Korea: I have no means of convenient transportation. I do not own a car, there is no public trans like in Korea, and it can be difficult to coordinate rides with other students given our schedules. I like my independence and to not have to inconvenience others in order to help me. It is one of the things I really miss about Korea: I could jump on a bus or train and go anywhere anytime. I miss that freedom.
It has also been difficult to be surrounded by English 24/7. I miss the challenge of constantly trying to figure out what was being said. Now anytime I hear a foreign student I am relieved by that touch of diversity. Fortunately, I have met a Korean girl on my floor here at school. She is very sweet and is willing to help me with my Korean. I have also met several other Asian students, who have been so happy to meet an American who knows about J-pop and Cantonese movies. I hope that I can continue to learn and appreciate other cultures while studying here in the USA.
One of the most interesting aspects of this week was the uproar over SOPA and PIPA by the Internet Community. I first heard about these bills a few weeks ago, but it wasn't until I discussed these bills with a few well informed friends that I fully understood the severity of these proposals and the consequences they would hold. I was relieved to see they did not pass, however, I am sure that more bills like them will be written in the future.
Basically, they were protections of copyrighted material on the internet. While that is a noble thing to defend, the issue was that they would take it to such an extreme that it would shut down virtually every site that is used to connect and share information. The internet is still something that we don't fully understand, and it is dangerous to write legislation concerning an entity that is developing at a rapid rate and has shown potential to revolutionize the way we communicate.
In my Organizational Communications class this week, we discussed the implications of emerging technology and social media in the way individuals communicate. My professor used the example of the printing press as the first medium of media that deemed the previous media obsolete (handwritten books). I had never viewed the invention of the printing press as the first step to today's internet revolution, but it is the first monumental shift in media in history. My teacher also discussed the rapid rate in which both computers and the internet is changing. He talked about how this will revolutionize the way we read (ebooks replacing traditional books, even textbooks, our school will shift to ebooks within the next five or so years), the way we connect with professionals and individuals, the way revolutions begin (as evidence of the Arab Spring from last year), the list goes on. I do not and I don't think the majority of the world fully understands the implications of these new technologies and just how fast they are changing. It will be interesting to see within the next five years just how much changes compared to 2012...
Monday, January 23, 2012
First Week of School and 설날
Happy 설날 ("Solnal" Korean Lunar New Year) and Happy Chinese New Year! As many of you know, I just returned from studying in Korea for 16 months. Solnal is now a holiday I celebrate and appreciate for its significance to over a third of the world's population. Almost every country in East Asia celebrates a Lunar holiday, whether it is called Lunar or Chinese New Year. This year marks the Year of the Dragon, which is a significant year in the calendar. We will see if it lives up to the expectations!
This past week was my first week back at school here at SEMO. My classes consisted of reading syllabi, the necessary monotonous week of the semester. I am excited about my classes, from the descriptions they look like they will be interesting and some will prove to be a challenge.
I am taking my Senior Seminar for my Communications degree this semester (I will need to take another seminar for my other major as well next semester), it looks like it will push me to get back into this American university groove. It is a joint upper level undergraduate as well as graduate level course, so there will be a diverse group of individuals discussing the subject matter in this class.
On Wednesday, I celebrated Martin Luther King Jr Day by attending the Civil Rights Celebration Dinner, which is held yearly at my school. I was fortunate to attend by invitation as an Honors student by the Honors school, so I was very excited to be a part of the celebration.
The keynote speaker was Former Governor L Douglas Wilder, the first African American Governor in American History. I was so honored to hear this man, who has lived through so much history, share his life story and words of wisdom to us students. He fought in the Korean War, which was moving for me since Korea remains dear to my heart. He also served in the State Senate as one of the first African Americans in US History to do so. He became Governor of Virginia in 1990 and remains one of the most popular Governors in Virginia's history. He focused on the importance of pursuing your ambitions and never allowing others to degrade your potential. He reflected that this ideal applies to all American young people and urged every individual to fulfill their hopes regardless of what society may say. I found this very inspiring, here is a man who has lived this philosophy that I hope to continue to strive for. His message is universal and I hope to be able to instill that message in every person I impact in my life.
Reflecting on the Civil Rights Movement in America made me realize how far we have come. I believe there is still a lot of work to be done, but we continue to press towards that goal of judging others by the content of their character. It is my prayer that King's message will break the chains of prejudice around the world, that every persecuted people group will find acceptance from those that persecute them. King's message applies to all people, not just here in America, it is a universal message.
This past week was my first week back at school here at SEMO. My classes consisted of reading syllabi, the necessary monotonous week of the semester. I am excited about my classes, from the descriptions they look like they will be interesting and some will prove to be a challenge.
I am taking my Senior Seminar for my Communications degree this semester (I will need to take another seminar for my other major as well next semester), it looks like it will push me to get back into this American university groove. It is a joint upper level undergraduate as well as graduate level course, so there will be a diverse group of individuals discussing the subject matter in this class.
On Wednesday, I celebrated Martin Luther King Jr Day by attending the Civil Rights Celebration Dinner, which is held yearly at my school. I was fortunate to attend by invitation as an Honors student by the Honors school, so I was very excited to be a part of the celebration.
The keynote speaker was Former Governor L Douglas Wilder, the first African American Governor in American History. I was so honored to hear this man, who has lived through so much history, share his life story and words of wisdom to us students. He fought in the Korean War, which was moving for me since Korea remains dear to my heart. He also served in the State Senate as one of the first African Americans in US History to do so. He became Governor of Virginia in 1990 and remains one of the most popular Governors in Virginia's history. He focused on the importance of pursuing your ambitions and never allowing others to degrade your potential. He reflected that this ideal applies to all American young people and urged every individual to fulfill their hopes regardless of what society may say. I found this very inspiring, here is a man who has lived this philosophy that I hope to continue to strive for. His message is universal and I hope to be able to instill that message in every person I impact in my life.
Reflecting on the Civil Rights Movement in America made me realize how far we have come. I believe there is still a lot of work to be done, but we continue to press towards that goal of judging others by the content of their character. It is my prayer that King's message will break the chains of prejudice around the world, that every persecuted people group will find acceptance from those that persecute them. King's message applies to all people, not just here in America, it is a universal message.
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