My name is Dana Smith and I am a Physical Education major with a minor in human studies. I am student teaching at Davie High School in the Mebane Masters program. I decided to be a teacher when I was a senior in high school. I looked up to my track coach and he was my PE teacher for a few classes. He showed interest in my education and athletics and made sure I did everything I could in both aspects of high school to succeed. I am big into mostly every sport and I am excited to start teaching and do everything I can to decrease obesity in America.
This opportunity of going to Ireland will also give me the chance to spread my ideas about decreasing obesity outside of America. I decided on Ireland because I have always been interested in traveling everywhere around the world. Irish people speak English and that helps too. In high school I was in the AFS club for 4 years and very active in it. The AFS club dealt with the foreign exchange students and every year we went on a short term exchange as a club. In 4 years I went to Cleveland, Toranto, Boston, Buffalo, and San Francisco.
This chance of going to Ireland will now increase my travels and be my first trip out of the country besides the Toranto visit. It will be my first over seas experience. My experience in the AFS club got me interested in traveling early and has had a huge influence in my decision about going to student teach in Ireland. I am excited about this chance to further my education and increase my intelligence about other cultures.