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Professional Development Plan
For many people, last Thursday
was just another day. But for me, an event occurred that rarely takes
place anymore, an event that I cherish deeply for I know that in the not
so distant future, it will cease to exist. It is Thursday night in Mount Vernon, and
my friends and I have gathered for a girls’ night in. Our ritual
started as a weekly tradition freshmen year when we were in easier
classes and not as committed to nearly as many organizations. Freshmen
year was a time where all I had to worry about was planning my Spring
Break in a tropical climate located anywhere but rural Iowa. Things seemed so simple then.
Now it is senior year, and I am faced with the finish line in sight, the
proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. I am beginning to realize that
it is necessary to have a direction and a plan for the future in not only
my professional career, but also in my personal life. This is my attempt
to develop a professional development plan that will cover the next five
to ten years of my life. From graduate school to cultural events, this
paper will be a series of goals that I have set for myself in order to
ensure that I stay true to my passions and my dreams.
Scholarly Goals:
As a freshmen entering college,
I never thought that I would continue past my bachelor’s degree. I
wanted to be finished with my education after sixteen years of school
varying from small private schools to large public institutions. I
thought I had seen it all, and I certainly did not want to pursue further
education. However, I am now beginning to understand that my education is
a part of me that no one can take away. As an international business
major, I have studied investments ad nauseam, and I know that my
education is the best investment that I could ever make because investing
in yourself is guaranteed to be a high return.
My goal is to achieve a Masters of Higher Education and go on to earn a doctorate degree in the education field. Regardless of what level of degree I achieve, I would like to be a life-long learner. I hope that I never feel as though I have quenched my insatiable thirst for information and learning, for it is truly something that I am passionate about
Personal Goals:
During my lifetime, I would
like to go to as many countries as possible. I am especially interested
in Italy because my
family’s roots are in a town called Cefalu which is located on the island of Sicily. I have seen pictures and
have been captivated by its beauty and history ever since I was a little
girl. Another point of interest for me is Australia
and New Zealand
because of the amazing snorkeling and scuba diving you can do in the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding waters. The
scenery is simply magnificent as an added bonus. I have just received my
passport for my trip to Greece
in May, and I have full intentions of filling it with stamps from as many
countries as I can before I have a family and other responsibilities to
consider.
As far as applying this goal to
my teaching career, I think it might be interesting to coordinate an
overseas program that would exchange American students with European
students for a week or two. This would allow me to use my International
Business degree in my teaching career. Giving students an opportunity to
explore the world is something that I wish I had been given when I was in
high school.
A passion of mine that I have
just recently discovered is my love of swing, ballroom and salsa dancing.
I would love to be able to take dance classes in these areas so that I am
prepared to dance in all the countries I visit! I could apply my salsa
and tango in Spain
and use the ballroom dances in basically any European country. Dancing is
something that I have always loved to do, and I find that it is a perfect
release for me when things get to be too stressful. Knowing ways I can
de-stress as a teacher will help me remain balanced and centered both
personally and professionally.
Fine Arts Goals:
From a very young age, I have
been exposed to Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart symphonies and operas. I grew
up learning how to play these pieces on the piano and through the
generosity of my family, I am able to go to the symphony and opera
whenever I want. For my twentieth birthday, I received a full Lyric Opera
of Chicago membership. This allows me to go to all seven of the operas
that are put into production downtown at the Civic Opera
Center every year.
I plan on continuing to enjoy opera throughout my lifetime, no matter
where I am geographically. I find that I can escape reality through the
beautiful music and whimsical characters in these timeless masterpieces.
Civic Responsibilities:
Depending on where my career
takes me, I have an interest in possibly running for a position on a
school board. I believe that I have the personality and confidence that
could help me achieve this goal. One of my passions is to eliminate the
educational inequalities that plague American schools. I believe, by
utilizing my position on a school board, I could create positive change
in many districts and schools. This is very interesting to me because I
have always been fascinated with political science.
Conclusion:
Overall,
I want my life to be rich in experiences. Therefore, I am prepared to try
my hardest to make sure that I accomplish all I have set out to do. I
will encourage my children with the same wise advice that my mother has
bestowed unto me, and I will always remember that my time on this earth
is precious. I believe life is very unpredictable, and I am aware that
all the goals and plans that I may make for myself now may completely
change with any given circumstance or event in my life. However, I agree
with the musical band Green Day when they say, “It's something
unpredictable, but in the end is right, I hope you had the time of your
life.”
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