My Goals
When I started at Salt Lake Community College in 2006 I was working full-
time. I soon realized that going to school full-time also was not going to
work. I have worked with kids for almost 20 years and thought that I
would benefit from increasing my knowledge base beyond the early child-
hood training I had recieved at SLCC in the early '90's.
Going to SLCC these past 5 years has really opened my mind to things I
did not realize. You see, I have a Learning Disability and I did not think I
could go to college because I did not have the skills needed to make it in
college. When I finished high school my math skills and reading skills
were at a fourth grade level. With a lot of support from my family and help
from the Disability Resource Center I have achieved more than I ever
dreamed. I have learned that every person can learn if given the chance.
This has given me the goal of helping disabled kids learn to achieve an
education!
SLCC Learning Outcomes
SLCC has outlined 5 Outcomes that a student should acquire during their
educational experience.
For me, the biggest outcome has been an increase
in my confidence when working with students. I have increased my
knowledge base and can guide my students appropriatedly.
I work as part a team and communication is very important for the team to
function. We back each other up and have to fill in as necessary plus we
must be able to pass on clear information about each child to the lead
teacher. Also, being able to speak in front of a group is something I was
not skilled at but in multiple classes at SLCC I have had to give
presentations on various subjects and can now do it without a problem.
One of my biggest challenges has been in the field of mathematics. With
the support of some really genuine teachers who recognize that not all
students learn in the same way I have been able to overcome a giant
obstacle to the point where I can now help a student who may be struggling
to understand a math concept. Also, my knowledge base in science has
given me tools to work with students, something I had never done before.
I have been exposed to critical thinking all my life. My parents were very
insistant that my siblings and I look at all angles of a situation not just our
our perspective. I think that every class I have taken at SLCC has
reinforced what I have used to understand life's problems and ways to
work with them.
My career is very important to me and to be professionally engaged is part
what makes it work. Working with elementary school-age disabled kids is
a challange. To be constructive with both students and co-workers is an
ongoing task. I have experienced working professionally with other
students on group projects, even in online classes. Getting a group to
work together through Skype without actually meeting in-person worked
because of the professional, constructive skills learned while at SLCC.
