Hello all, my name is Julia Swinn and I am an art education major with qualifications ranging from primary school to high school. The thought of teaching never really stuck me until mid-way through my freshman year of college at UNC Greensboro. I knew my talents were in both the sciences and the arts but I was unsure as to the direction I should take with either. I realized that visual art was my true passion and to share it with kids, big and small, was really the best way to further art appreciation and cultural production. So with that in mind I transferred to Appalachian. It is through my studio classes and wonderful relationships with my art education professors that my love for sharing and teaching art has grown.
Perhaps it is the camaraderie with other students and professors in my concentration that has kept me from second guessing my decisions regarding my education at ASU. The university and the colleges of education and fine arts have afforded me opportunities and experiences in art and teaching that I feel are truly exemplary. More than anything, my practicum experiences preceding my actual student teaching semester have been second to none.
My reasons for applying to international student teaching stem from my love for travel. I've been fortunate enough to travel internationally my entire life, but not only that, the ability to travel independently of others has helped my awareness of international etiquette and allowed me to adapt to different situations and be respectful and responsible to my destinations. International student teaching has always been more of a necessity to me and my teaching philosophies.
My most recent international venture placed me in Italy, touring the Reggio Emilia infant toddler centers that are world renowned for their progressive interdisciplinary and democratic ways of introducing culture to young children. Prior to that experience, I was fortunate to be able to spend time throughout North and Central America, Spain, France, England, Zimbabwe. I have also spent a considerable amount of time in South Africa, where I was exposed to foreign dignitaries and diplomats. As well, I received first hand experience in a school outside Pretoria.
More than anything, I want to gain insight into how children learn throughout the world. Being in an international setting is something I've always been keen about and to be able to share cultures through a common interest in art seems so fulfilling. The richness of Irish history and the Irish contemporary culture is a major point of interest to me so the opportunity to really immerse myself in that country is something that I think about constantly. I know this experience is something I will surely learn from and be able to use in my future teaching ventures.
This is me in Reggio Emilia, Italy this past March.