Well, I'm ready to be off to Costa Rica at this point, but I'm still waiting and loving student teaching. I'm Sarah Stewart and am teaching at Mabel Elementary for 8th grade students. Also, I'm teaching Language Arts and Social Studies teacher. I only have 25 students total for both class, which means 13 for one class and 12 for the other! Obviously, this is a very small number and honestly I wish it was bigger. But my cooperating teacher is the best thing that has happened in Watauga County; even though she is like a grandmother to me- she is hip, groovy, and so much fun! Therefore, I'm going to be cooperating in the North Carolina Cultural Correspondents Program with Mrs. Danner (cooperating teacher at Mabel) while I'm in Nicoya, Costa Rica. All my students will continue to learn about different things from my voice and video about Costa Rica and I will still be keeping relationships with Mrs. Danner and my students.
My love for education started from the 7th grade (hence, why I'm in Middle Grades Education). My Language Arts 7th grade teacher, Mrs. Bumgarner impacted my life in many ways. During my Elementary years, I was always told I wasn't good enough or I just couldn't get it. These thoughts aided my lack of self-worth and confidence in school and other areas in my life. It was almost as if I was a lost cause. Mrs. Bumgarner changed that! She put all her faith in me, worked with me one-on-one and eventually moved me up in my academic career. She never let me fall between the cracks. Since that class, I have worked hard and remembered that I can succeed regardless of the obstacles around me. I hope to inspire students the same as my 7th grade teacher.
International teaching seemed like the right choose because I had wanted to stretch myself as a teacher in new ways. This idea of being in a new country and teaching was a must for me. I now want a new experience. Since I have been in college I have begun to just do the motions without loving it, but thinking about being somewhere fresh, new, and unknown will help me get not feeling and actually enjoying teaching students. This will help aid my passion back into my future career as a teacher! I'm excited to go Costa Rica where the language will be new and slightly problematic because I will learn so much on my feet. Being able to go where I'm unsure about makes me excited and eager to go now! I've been trained to have schedules, planners, and organization and for once this is the opposite! I have no expectations for this time, therefore, I'm sure I'm going to come back with some much confidence and respect for others. I didn't plan on going to Costa Rica at first, but now I know it was the right choice
CAN't WAIT!
Sarah Stewart
