My name is Glen Wallace and I am in my second semester at Brockport. I completed my BS in Biology at Saint Michael's College in Colchester Vemont in 2007 and then came back to the Rochester area. As I began looking for jobs and thinking about furthering my education I realized that while science is great, my real passion is working with children. The bulk of my prior work experience consists of 2 years teaching swimming lessons at a local YMCA near my parent's home in Pittsford, 6 summers as a camp counselor at YMCA Camp Gorham in the Adirondacks, and a few semseters tutoring undergraduates in Chemistry. While considering my interests and experiences in life, the obvious choice was to pursue a career as a science educator.
I am currently employed as a Recreation Therapist in the Emergency Services/Short-Term Residential Program at Hillside Children's Center. This means that I get to plan and run activites for 24 clients who face various social, emotional, and mental challenges. My job continues to provide me with experiences that will greatly benefit my career as an educator each and every day. The most invalueable lesson I have learned is that when it comes down to it, kids are just kids. They have the same basic needs and wants regardless of ability level, race, background, age, gender or any other factor. A second is that there are no inherently "bad" children. Some of them may face challenges that are hard to understand or even identify, but there really is potential in every single child.
My favorite hobbies include canoeing, kayaking, reading, sailing, and biking. I have had the priviledge of teaching canoeing and kayaking at both YMCA Camp Gorham and Hillside's summer camp, Camp Possibilities, and I taught sailing for a year at Gorham as well. Reading is a mandatory, daily part of life as a graduate student, and I'm the guy riding his bike around campus regardless of the weather. My heroes include Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and MacGyver. I drink a lot of green tea and I have three pet goldfish. That is all of the personal information I can think of at this time that I feel like publishing to cyberspace.
I think that is great that the other jobs you held in the past helped you realize that you wanted to be a teacher. Your work as a recreation therapist sounds very interesting and seems as if it has given you a very strong understanding of how children are and what they need. I agree that I think such a background will greatly benefit you as a teacher.
ReplyDeleteWow, Glen, you are a busy man!!! I agree with you that there are so many children out there who get the bad rap as being "bad" and really all they need is a little bit of attention and someone to listen to them. Your background will help you so much in your career!
ReplyDeleteI think we should go biking! Let me know, I just got studded tires for my mountain bike. The roads are clear enough!
ReplyDeleteThis if for you, Glen:
ReplyDeletehttp://youtube.com/watch?v=3w-oDZSLUrY
Glen, thanks for sharing your background. Very impressive! I really enjoyed your comment..."The most invaluable lesson I have learned is that when it comes down to it, kids are just kids." I agree with you 100%. Best of luck to you this semester.
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