Since I have been at Appalachian I have developed from an teenager who apparently "disliked school" to a mature adult who is now a life long learner. If I look back, I suppose the only reason why I came to university initially is because it's society's norm. I didn't have an extreme desire to, I thought it's just what you do once you finish high school. Because I came from New Zealand and we conclude our school years in December, I had from December 2004 to August 2005 to do something, I worked in a warehouse. In retrospect it was monotonous, hard work, but I loved it. I got to interact with a variety of people and deal in a business that has a lot to do with soccer, the other love in my life. Therefore, I could have easily pottered around in my free-loving life doing this with absolutely no homework and little commitments outside 830-5. However, I knew deep down that society expected me to go to university and it would have been a waste of quite a decent high school career had I not continued my education. So off I was, on a soccer scholarship to Appalachian State University.
I was always a good student, right the way through school up until now, and that should have been a clue. However, you know how it is when your younger and its"uncool" to like school, well that's how I was. Then I became an education major, that should have been another clue. However, my love for learning didn't hit me until the spring semester of my Junior year and I was taking a class called "Foundations of American Education" with professor Michael Dale. In that class we read various philosophical papers on education, but there was this one paper called "Love and Despair in Teaching" by Daniel P. Liston. That's when I came to a sudden realization. The good grades, the continuing education in education, the never ending quest for perfection in my school work, the time management and juggling of various educational and extracurricular commitments, the love of interpersonal relationships with fellow students and professors...I had finally developed a love of learning and a desire to be a lifelong learner.
Although now I am in the process of changing my educational focus from education to exercise science, this doesn't take away from my love of learning. This is despite the fact I am turning my back, for the moment, on teaching and a career in the educational field. In my opinion, by learning another element of life this only enhances the fact that I am a lifelong learner. I am changing my focus knowing that I could always return to teaching and continue to be a lifelong learner, given the nature of the profession. Therefore, as graduate school in an exercise science program beckons, I will go knowing that whatever I do I will always be lifelong learner which only requires one thing, a love of learning. Thank you App for helping me find my way.
Next time I'll raving the reviews of the Appalachian PETE program and the thorough education I received through my major.
Until next time.
~Cam
