A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME...

Kia ora-- Hello!
I am a senior at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin. In October 2018, I will embark on the adventure of a lifetime-- student teaching in New Zealand! Read more about my time in NZ right here on my blog.

WHY ABROAD?

Ever since I toured SNC as a senior in high school, I've wanted to teach abroad. When I visited, I heard all about the student teaching abroad program, and it greatly influenced my decision to attend St. Norbert. What an incredible and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

I've had several friends go to locations all over the world teaching, and now it's FINALLY my chance. I studied abroad after my first year in college during summer '16, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The five weeks I spent in South America showed me how much more of a world there was to see and experience. While in BA, I especially enjoyed hearing people's stories and about their backgrounds and personal experiences. Some of the best times I had was when I sat and talked with my host mother, listening to her experiences being a Jewish-Argentine, meeting now elderly women who've marched for government reform for the past 38 years straight, or chatting with some fellow students in an ice cream shop by our apartment.

When I heard New Zealand was an option, I jumped at the chance and marked it as my #1 choice location. It is such a gorgeous place with cultural roots that are ingrained deeply into life on the island. I am very excited to open up my heart to an unfamiliar branch of my human family- Kiwis.

Although I will greatly miss my family and friends in the U.S., I know that this is something I'm meant to do. I can't believe that the dream I once had four long years ago is finally becoming a reality.

GOALS

While I am in NZ, I have a few simple personal goals:

- to learn as much as I can about a people group different than me

- learn a ton from my host family and cooperating teachers, and students of course ;)

- to experience both the natural and man-made beauty of the country

- to experience attending NZ churches in the area

- have an absolute ball with several dear friends that I'm traveling with!

My professional goals:

Since I began my journey in the field of Education, I have often felt unsatisfied with several areas of schools in the United States (specifically Wisconsin) today. I am excited to experience different styles of teaching, assessment, classroom management, lesson planning/prep-ing, and how "specials" (ie art, music, technology, etc.) are implemented into the classroom every day. While I am at Tirimoana, I want to talk to and observe a wide variety of levels of teaching and teaching styles.

I have heard a lot about the literacy curriculum in New Zealand, which is an area I am greatly interested in.

I know in the long run this will make me a more well rounded individual, better learner, and hopefully a greater educator.