Since sixth grade, when dialup Internet became a novelty, I simultaneously became a computer geek. Countless hours have been spent using search engines to locate information, communicating on Internet Relay Chat, and navigating rivers and fighting off thieves on the Oregon Trail.
Fast-forward to today where I am reading hundreds of online articles per week, networking with people across the globe on Twitter and Facebook, and using a slingshot to fling animals into various structures in Angry Birds.
The types of activities that have preoccupied me have adjusted little. The real change has been the access time. Thank God for high-speed Internet.
After taking several computer classes in high school, I decided that a career as a business teacher would be the perfect fit. After all, I was the one racing around the classroom helping my classmates with Excel formulas and business letter formats. Because of my passion for learning, I continue to develop a solid personal network and research new methods to reach my students every day. But it was MCWT who has inspired me to become better both personally and professionally.
Prior to the 2010-11 school year, I did not know MCWT existed. It was my technology director, Fran Hubert, who sent a web design contest flyer to my inbox. Hundreds of professional development opportunities and contests grace my desk annually. This one was no different. And it certainly was not printed on neon paper nor did it have glitter shimmering around the letters of the title to make it stand out. But web design is my favorite class to teach so I jumped at this chance. Three young ladies were registered for the contest, two placed in the top twelve, and one was awarded with an honorable mention distinction. It was a perfect day.
It was not the contest itself that filled my heart with admiration for MCWT. It was the countless volunteers who sacrificed family and work time to provide these teenagers with an authentic learning opportunity. The professionals at MCWT truly love giving back to others and their generosity is displayed through both their words and works.
Mitch Albom wrote, “Stardom is a funny thing here. You don’t achieve it by talking loud or dating a supermodel. You achieve it by shyly lowering your head when they introduce you or tossing the ball to the refs after scoring a touchdown. ” Through the continual actions of the people serving MCWT, I believe this organization has reached stardom.
Fast-forward to today where I am reading hundreds of online articles per week, networking with people across the globe on Twitter and Facebook, and using a slingshot to fling animals into various structures in Angry Birds.
The types of activities that have preoccupied me have adjusted little. The real change has been the access time. Thank God for high-speed Internet.
After taking several computer classes in high school, I decided that a career as a business teacher would be the perfect fit. After all, I was the one racing around the classroom helping my classmates with Excel formulas and business letter formats. Because of my passion for learning, I continue to develop a solid personal network and research new methods to reach my students every day. But it was MCWT who has inspired me to become better both personally and professionally.
Prior to the 2010-11 school year, I did not know MCWT existed. It was my technology director, Fran Hubert, who sent a web design contest flyer to my inbox. Hundreds of professional development opportunities and contests grace my desk annually. This one was no different. And it certainly was not printed on neon paper nor did it have glitter shimmering around the letters of the title to make it stand out. But web design is my favorite class to teach so I jumped at this chance. Three young ladies were registered for the contest, two placed in the top twelve, and one was awarded with an honorable mention distinction. It was a perfect day.
It was not the contest itself that filled my heart with admiration for MCWT. It was the countless volunteers who sacrificed family and work time to provide these teenagers with an authentic learning opportunity. The professionals at MCWT truly love giving back to others and their generosity is displayed through both their words and works.
Mitch Albom wrote, “Stardom is a funny thing here. You don’t achieve it by talking loud or dating a supermodel. You achieve it by shyly lowering your head when they introduce you or tossing the ball to the refs after scoring a touchdown. ” Through the continual actions of the people serving MCWT, I believe this organization has reached stardom.