Hopefully as I progress in this career journey I will be better able to make that connection with a family in similar circumstances, help those left grieving “make room” and move forward with a sense of meaning and
Monetary factors are why many people find themselves re-entering college. Based on a narrative case study Orgnero (2013), reports on a non-traditional student, a man named Carl, who wanted to go back to school, he took one transitional course to get his feet wet and to help make the transition easier. In 2007 hard times hit, the nation unemployment skyrocketed. Numerous corporation bottomed-out. There were massive layoffs; many companies were forced to close.
In my freshman year, I made a choice to relinquish some of my social life and replace that time giving back to my community. I joined a non-profit organization called the Volunteer Corp. We spent our time at food banks, park clean-ups, and even hosting local events. This experience left a lasting impression on me in many ways; however, one experience changed my perspective on life and serve as a constant reminder of how the smallest contribution to others can be the most powerful. St. Joseph University, in Philadelphia, held an event called Hand in Hand. It was an event dedicated to raising awareness for people with physical and/or developmental disabilities.
My journey began when The Deron School hired me as a paraprofessional. I learned so much about myself in a classroom setting of diverse learners. First, my strong qualities, such as patience, flexibility to change, and positivity, were simply demonstrated for this position. I have witnessed staff members resign due to stress from unpredictable circumstances. However, I can simply understand the rough days which strengthens my performance to find a solution.
In an effort to continue my personal mission of helping students, I’m sure that continuing my education through the obtainment of a doctoral degree in education will increase my knowledge and ability to serve
I learned how to adapt to the individual needs of students to provide them the best education. Like students with a communication disorder, many of my students would shy away from activities or tasks because of obstacles. Through these experiences, I watched my students gain the confidence to participate in activities and excel in academics to become successful individuals. As a future Speech Language Pathologist, many qualities that I possess can be improved by furthering my education.
“Always driving around like idiots, tryna’ prove how macho they are… And they wonder why they get shot at.” This is what I have the pleasure of listening to when driving with my father. He spews venom towards every dark-skinned driver who runs a red light or changes lanes at the last minute, frequenting phrases like “gangsters” and “thugs.” In the passenger seat my mother chews her lip, never summoning the courage to silence him.
I am Matthew McVey even though typing that very redundant. I don’t always like to play by the rules, but most of the time even the rules need to be fallowed for the sake of everyone else. I can be a perfectionist and an utterly complete fool. Sometimes the simplest concept evades my mind entirely. I know the world will not wait for me to catch up, so I just have to be ahead of the world.
I discovered that I have an incredible ability to help people. Over the year I kept debating on coming to college. The debate was between immediate gratification of my purpose, or an education that will help me change people’s lives even more. Luckily, I picked the latter. While rereading L’étranger, I dug up my passion for literature and writing.
At the CIA, “Food Is Life” means that food is a major ingredient in your life. To others food might mean good taste, but to me food means so much more. Food is what I see, obviously eat, but most importantly, it’s what I think about all day. Food means everything to me and that is why I wish to enroll into the CIA because I know that I will find my success there.
My experiences and what I have learned from them will add to the Towson University campus community. The world I come from is based around a family which displays strength and resilience. I come from a military family where both my mother and father have served many years. My mother served for nineteen years in the U.S. Navy while my dad served for several years in the U.S. Marines. I have three siblings, all within five to ten years older than me.
Each of us aspires to fulfill our lives with purpose by beginning our footsteps at setting principles, in which they dictate the course of our paths. My principles are divided into short and long-term principles, where they all correlate with the primary objective of always helping others. Consequently, my short-term principles are becoming the best leader for incoming first-year students and push first-year students towards academic excellence as a peer mentor. My long-term principles are becoming a social worker and an art teacher for all ages. Both professions hone on my compassion to help others and ensure that their futures are bright as they imagine them.
I would like to address my educational short comings. In high school, I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities of helping raise my two baby brothers with my mom. Those responsibilities included, but were not limited to: babysitting, household chores such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry; tending to the family dog, and just taking care of my own personal needs. It had gotten to the point that I had enrolled in independent study at Chico High School in fall 2010 so I could pick up a job for some extra money because funds were so tight. I was taking courses at Butte College by the summer of 2010 and immediately enrolled full-time for the fall 2011 semester after I graduated high school.
In my life, I’ve switched five different schools. One of these processes was challenging to fit in. In the year twenty fourteen I switched schools from Roberts Ferry to Hickman Elementary School. I came up to school that morning. It looked a little scary and intimidating.
As Christian educators, we must continue to seek opportunities to grow spiritually and educationally to better ourselves. As adults, we are models for our students, and we must share our worldview with our students by sharing our love for Christ and education. As an educator, it is my goal to create a supportive, caring, and nurturing environment. In this environment I will encourage student leadership and provide knowledge to all students and produce lifelong learners by offering an academic foundation
