The Appalachian Way of Life Through the Eyes of a Kiwi

Festive Spirit

2009-12-21T00:29:00.004-05:00

Ok, it’s been way too long since I have written on this here blog, so I thought it was about time to lay down some thoughts. As Lil Wayne puts it in Let it Rock “I’m back like I forgot something…”

Christmas is less than a week away, and not surprisingly I am lacking in festive cheer. I am not sure on the exact reasons for this, but I can speculate on a number.

Ever since I left home, back in August 2005, Christmas’ have never really felt the same. It was like a defining moment in my life with regards to the child-like excitement I was able(/allowed) to feel for Christmas. Up until I left home, I used to buy my Mum and Dad gifts, and perhaps some family members and friends, however, I didn’t feel the pressure of having to significantly impress with the status of my gift. Since then however, all I have been able to think when gift buying is “have I got this person enough to demonstrate my love and appreciation of them in my life?” Now, I believe that it is this pressure that has contributed to my declining festive cheer over the past four years.

On a side note, this is why I love writing Christmas cards so much (for those of you who were fortunate enough to receive one). Subtle, yet sweet and all the while exhibiting a love for the recipient by taking the time to handwrite a personal message.

Another major contributor to my decline for the love of Christmas is the fact that Christmas is a time to be at home with family and friends. However, the last Christmas I spent in NZ was way back in 2007. Now albeit, last Christmas was spent with my former girlfriend Ali and her family and that was an enjoyable experience in the Northeast. However, summer Christmas’ will always have a slightly more resonating effect on me just because these are what I grew up with.

Going along with this idea of not being home for Christmas is also the issue that I haven’t seen my Mum for Christmas since 2007. I have seen her this year in May when she came over for my graduation from Appalachian, however, the flights back to NZ (especially over this holiday period and travelling from the East Coast) are horrendously expensive and a plane ticket is one cannot afford on a Graduate Assistantship stipend. With some hard saving of my stipend over the next 12months I am hoping to see my Mum’s beautiful face again, and also wade in the Pacific ocean over a summer Christmas spent at home in NZ.

As highlighted in the preceding paragraph, not seeing a significant person in your life over this festive period is obviously a downer on your festive cheer. Consequently, as I result of diverging life paths, this is the first Christmas in three that I won’t be with Ali. Although my festive cheer had been declining in the Christmas’ up until now, her love for this time of the year always seemed to perk me up about the holiday spirit. Although I would verbally despise her playing of classic Christmas songs and other cheesy holiday rituals, I would secretly appreciate the fact that she would help me get in the mood for what I know is an important time of the year.

This therefore highlights my dilemma, I understand the importance of this time of the year (religiously and as a time of being united with loved ones) however, I am still struggling to find my cheer.

This Christmas for me is going to be a “non-traditional” one. My Dad and I have been planning to road trip out West for a while, to explore the final frontier of our respective U.S. adventures, before my Dad once again returns to NZ. We are going to be spending Christmas with a friend of his in South Dakota before carrying on our merry way to various other tourist sites (Mt. Rushmore, Colorado, Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas) and catching up with other friends. I am tremendously excited about the sites I will get to see and the people I will get to catch up with.

Therefore, although Christmas day itself may not be one that is stereotypical, I pose you the following question; Is spending time with my father (which has been very infrequent over the past 2 years) and visiting friends not seen on a regular basis, what Christmas is about? Perhaps this year, only once our adventure is completed, is when I will fully recognize my festive spirit.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Love Cam

New Place in Memphis

2009-08-08T15:32:00.013-04:00

Hey Everyone

Below are some pictures of my new place right next to the UofM campus. Enjoy...

Ol' 3801 Spottswood Ave, Memphis, TN, 38111

The view from my porch. UofM Women's Soccer field in the foreground and campus in the background.

Once you walk in the front door.

Looking back the other way.

Some pictures and videos of my room.

The humble kitchen.

The laundry.

Our backyard.

Curtain Call

2009-04-18T09:20:00.005-04:00

Over the past year I have been writing this blog for Appalachian Admissions. The objective of the blog was to give prospective Appalachian students an insight to life as an Appalachian student. However, it is this past semester that I have really brought into my task, and this is due to the fact that this semester is my last attending Appalachian. Therefore, I felt as though it was time I recognized all the influences that brought me here and exhibited my appreciation to the people who have shown me such a wonderful time.

This task I completed for Appalachian Admissions was far from tedious, as one might think. In fact I have found it a pleasure. I feel fulfilled that I have been able to publicly display my affection to those who have had such a significant impact on not only my undergraduate career but my life. Additionally, I hope by recognizing these various influences and people I have provided prospective students a positive insight to Appalachian and perhaps one that might entice them to join this tremendous family.

My blog posts over the past semester have included:

- Forget Bean-town, Belk Library is the Hub of the Universe! - How Belk Library has shaped me as a person.
- Why Am I Here? - How I ended up student-teaching at Ashe County High School in the final semester of my undergraduate career.
- The Real Football - The role of soccer in bringing me to Appalachian State.
- Do Work Son! - How giving back has enabled me to somewhat pay back ASU and its people for what they have given me.
- PETE Showed Me the Light - The significant impact the Physical Education Teacher Education has had on my educational career.
- Love of Learning - How Appalachian developed me into a lifetime participant of learning.

As a wise man once said, “all good things must come to an end,” and unlike a good journalist, I have run out of material to provide commentary on. However on the other hand, I feel as though I have acknowledged those who deserved to be recognized and I would be bluffing if continued to make pieces up. Therefore, I hope there is honesty and integrity to my thoughts.

Finally, although I may have a couple of more posts describing Appalachian, I think my time of recognizing my significant influences through this medium is over. Additionally, although my time as a blogger for Appalachian Admissions is drawing to a close, I have communicated a desire to the Admissions people that I would like to keep my blog for personal use and have it as a form of an electronic diary that I can look back on years to come. It is my hope that it will become a more visited resource for friends and family to keep up with my comings and goings while I am away from them and New Zealand.

Good luck with your future endeavors. Appalachian has been a fantastic experience for me; however, make the appropriate choice for you – “everything happens for a reason.”

Until next time, whenever that may be.

~Cam

Forget Bean-town, Belk Library is the Hub of the Universe!

2009-04-04T14:02:00.006-04:00

A significant experience on my Appalachian career has been working in Belk Library. Although at times this work was monotonous and tedious, it is the people I met through this job that are the people I speak about when I comment that the people of Appalachian State are so wonderful and great.

Out of the eight undergraduate semesters I spent at Appalachian, I spent six of them under the tutelage of Connie Pendley, Pat Farthing, and Sue Hisle in the I.M.C. (Instructional Materials Centre) and I am spending this semester with Jack Love on the circulation desk (I didn’t work my first semester as a freshman – I was still acclimatizing myself to the United States and life as a college student.)

Since day one when I showed up looking for a job with my Trinidadian teammate, Connie and company were absolutely brilliant to me. Connie worked with my varying schedule due to athletics and other commitments and she created an atmosphere that made coming to work enjoyable. In addition to these positives, research and longitudinal studies have proven that Mrs. Connie Pendley is in fact the nicest person in Belk Library.

Jack is also one of the finest people in Belk library. I owe Jack a great deal of gratitude for allowing me to work for him this semester, although this is my student-teaching semester and finding time to work is tight.

Although there are many times in the library when hard work is required, I like to think at instants a bit of fun was had. The most memorable moment from my Belk Library experience is as follows:

One of my main jobs in the I.M.C. was to deliver library books to faculty members who requested them. On this one particular day the sky was overcast and grey, and consequently, Connie had given me a garbage bag. Now because the sky looked rainy and I didn’t have a rain jacket I presumed that this garbage bag was for me and I proceed to make a neatly fitting poncho, with openings for my arms and head. So here I was, already to walk out of the library, ready to take any elements Boone was prepared to throw at me and Connie stops me. To my bewilderment, the garbage bag was actually for me to wrap the books up in so they didn’t get wet while I delivered them, not for my personal comfort. To this day I still get ridiculed for the day I made the poncho. However, it’s all in good fun.

In my opinion, I believe that working in the library is quite possibly the best job on campus. The pay rate is basically the same as any other campus job (and consequently this is not great because in reality you are working for the state) and shelving books has its limitation as a gratifying experience. However, like I said above, the people who you meet in the library are second to none and you couldn’t ask for anymore as a colleague and friend.

As a final note, I would just like to take this moment to thank everybody I had the delight of interacting with in Belk Library, and this includes library faculty, staff, custodians, and fellow student-assistants. You all made a significant impact on my life and I will never forget you and the laughter we shared. The pleasure was all mine.

Like last post, I’m not sure what experience I am going to write about in my next trip down memory lane. I am hoping that to receive a flash of inspiration, like I did for this post, before the next two weeks is up. Fingers crossed this happens.

Until next time,

~Cam

Quick note continued...

2009-03-21T18:48:00.004-04:00

www.cammccarthy.com is now fully functional. Feel free to check it out. This is a prime example of the quality of work one would be expected to complete if they decided they wanted to declare Physical Education Teacher Education as their major of choice.

Take care.

Why Am I Here?

2009-03-20T13:01:00.005-04:00

While I am reflecting on the most significant experiences of my Appalachian career, it got me thinking, how did I end up here? (Excluding my soccer influences that I recognized in a previous blog.) This is because it is my belief that before you can move forward, you need to know where you came from. So here goes...

Why Am I Here?

How did I end up at Ashe County High school in the final semester of my undergraduate university career? This answer is obvious; it is because I am student-teaching at a public school near the university I chose to attend, Appalachian State University. However, this question is more complex than the literal explanation I provided. I am at Ashe County High School because I am student-teaching, which is the capstone experience of any undergraduate education major, for universities worldwide. However, I can attribute student-teaching and potentially pursuing a life of teaching through a combination of explanations. These explanations include being given a firsthand look at the life of a teacher through my own two parents, an unknown love of learning, some ill-informed advice, and a passion to help and give back in the public service domain.

The most significant impact that helps explain why I am here is the fact that both my parents were teachers. My Dad is a high school technology teacher and my Mum is a former elementary school teacher, now an English as a second language tutor. Consequently, from a young age I was exposed to the life of a teacher, indirectly through my parents. I was able to see the love of facilitating learning, but I was also able to see the vulnerability and despair teaching causes. I would come home from my day at school and see the joy in my parent’s eyes if they helped a student learn a new concept or if a student had reciprocated their love back. On the other hand, I could also see the vulnerability and despair their profession caused if they weren’t able to make a connection with a student or the student had exhibited inappropriate behavior.

Because I was able to see love, despair, and vulnerability through my parents, the major turning point that pushed me towards an undergraduate career in education was my own love of learning. Although I didn’t initially realize this, I actually liked coming to school. Whether it was an actual love of learning at that stage, or a love of going to school and sharing the interpersonal relationships with my friends is still unknown to me, but I do know I enjoyed coming to school. It is through my university career that I finally confirmed that I had a love of learning. This was demonstrated by my willingness to prioritize my school work above other things and the success I achieved subsequently. Therefore, I took the chance to pursue a career option that would give me an opportunity to go to a place which I loved attending every day. Furthermore, through teaching I am able to epitomize the saying “when one teaches, two learn” (unknown), satisfying my craving for learning.

When I first came to Appalachian I made the tough choice to declare my major as soon as I came in as a freshman, this way I could be tracked on a four year degree program that my athletic advisors and I desired. I didn’t want to take my time declaring and then realize that I wouldn’t get out of Appalachian in less than four and half-five years. Therefore, some of my decision to pursue Physical Education was instinct from the influences I have stated above, but it was finally established after some ill-informed advice by my father. I was weighing up between Physical Education and Exercise Science. Now I believe my Dad was somewhat correct in his statement that finding a job is a lot easier for a teacher than it is for any other profession because school’s are an element of every society that are never going to go away. There are always going to be schools and consequently there is always going to be a need for teachers. However, he also stated that the only occupation I could achieve with an Exercise Science degree is a personal trainer, which is not what I desired to be and still isn’t. Through experience however, I have learned that this very subjective statement is untrue and there would have been many rewarding potential occupations for me out there had I decided to pursue Exercise Science. Nevertheless, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak, and I decided upon teaching and declaring Physical Education Teacher Education.

I chose Physical Education because it was a subject I experienced success at throughout my grade school career. Additionally, I wanted to pursue a subject that didn’t require me to be inside a classroom all day. Therefore after considering other “non-traditional” subjects, such as technology and family and consumer sciences I decided to follow Physical Education. Since I have become a Physical Education major I have made it my duty to combat the notion that it is an academically soft curricular area. This is because Physical Education plays a critical role in educating the whole individual. Research supports the importance of movement in educating both mind and body. The physically active individual is more likely to be academically motivated, alert, and successful. Throughout the school years, quality Physical Education can promote social, cooperative, and problem-solving competencies, which other subjects can’t and don’t. Additionally, Physical Education for me, growing up in New Zealand, didn’t have this notion of being academically soft, as it does in the United States. To me, Physical Education was a challenging subject in all its facets, physical, mental, emotional, and social. It is my belief that the skills such as self-discipline and time management that I learned in this subject are the same skills that have helped me achieve so much success at university. Consequently, I want to promote similar skills in the students I teach.

The final reason why I chose education as my undergraduate career was a desire to help people and give back, which is one of the fundamental principles of teaching. I have always assumed that I would have the personality to be a great teacher and have a good rapport with my students to promote a conducive learning environment. On the other hand however, I didn’t know if I had the particular personality to pursue other public service majors, because they require specific traits I don’t think I have. These subjects include those that require either a hardnosed approach, such as criminal justice or social work, or those that are very individualistic and have little interpersonal relationships, such as design. Now at the conclusion of my degree program, in my semester of student-teaching, I have confirmed that I do have the personality to be a successful teacher and I also now know that I have the tools to make my educational environment conducive to learning. Therefore, I can help and give back to the future leaders of our society as maximally as I can.

In conclusion, despite its significance in pushing me towards an undergraduate career in teaching, it is my love of learning that is now edging me away from education for the moment. Additionally, the extreme dislike and despair I feel when I have to deal with the bureaucracy of school systems is also pushing me away. I understand that teachers have to be accountable for student learning and their extracurricular duties, however, there are some of us out there that are pursuing teaching for no other reason than to help facilitate student learning and give back. Consequently, all the red-tape that is associated with schools is extremely frustrating and despairing to me, and for the moment I would like to pursue other options in my life. Therefore, at this stage I am using my Physical Education degree to help me obtain a graduate career in Exercise Science. Once that is completed this I will decide what path I will travel. I am pursuing Exercise Science knowing that I can always come back to teaching and have the persona and tools to make a great educator and impact students’ lives.

There you have it people, over the past couple blogs I have explained how I ended up at Appalachian via soccer and the influences that swayed me towards education. As a result, I can move forward into the next stage of my life knowing I will always have these memories that were aided by everything Appalachian has to offer, and I will go forward with the skills to be as successful as I want to be.

As of right now, I'm not sure what Appalachian experience I want to recognize next, but I'll give it some thought and I'll get back to you.

Until next time,

~Cam

P.s. I have finally had my graduate assistantship application recognized and I have been offered a G.A. position at the University of Memphis to go along with my acceptance to their graduate school. Elvis...here I come!

Quick Note

2009-03-05T21:40:00.002-05:00

Below is a link to my personal website I have just created a domain name for. I have it completed, however, it's taking me time to upload and link it properly to the web. Therefore, please excuse any problems that may occur while you navigate through it.

http://www.cammccarthy.com/

Additionally, this is another example of the quality work we undertake in the Appalachian PETE program.

I hope you are well and that you have a great spring break. I'll enjoy my lack of one this year while I spend it student-teaching.

~Cam

The Real Football

2009-03-02T22:29:00.001-05:00

Ok, so it’s about time I acknowledged the reason why I attended Appalachian in the first place, the Men’s Soccer team. How I came to be recruited here is an amazing story of fate or destiny, depending on your belief system.

So in April 2004 my club soccer team, North Shore United decided to attend the Dallas Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament. Because this team had been to international soccer tournaments before in Australia we had the required experience and qualifications to obtain entrance to this prestigious and invite only tournament.

The main reason for going on this trip was so players could gain valuable exposure to college scouts that we thought would be littered around the tournament’s various venues. This is because in New Zealand there isn’t a professional soccer league, only semi-professional, and the attractiveness of the U.S. college soccer system is that it allows players an additional four years to develop physically, mentally, tactically, and technically before a he is thrusted into the professional spotlight. Also, it provides an opportunity for athletes to pursue a education in a higher education setting.

As it turned out, there were a couple of college scouts hanging around the tournament sites, however, they didn’t really start coming out legitimately until the later stages of the tournament to view and scout the most influential players from the big teams. Despite this realization at the conclusion of the tournament, I was lucky enough to go against the common trend.

Now I’m going to provide some background information on how I exactly ended up getting recruited. In New Zealand we have native people called Maori’s. America has Native American’s, Australian’s have Aborigines, and New Zealand has Maori’s. Maori’s are tribal by nature and consequently used to battle each other for land, food, or other resources. However, before going into battle the tribes would undertake a Haka which is a war dance aimed at intimidating the opposing people and warn them for what was about to happen. Nowadays the Haka is most commonly seen and associated with New Zealand’s national rugby team, The All Blacks. Consequently, because of the sporting connotation associated with the Haka, our soccer team used to perform our own version of it whenever we went to international tournaments. Usually we received a respectful rapport from opposition, fans, and media and it more often than not fired us up for the game. However, because our team was mainly white and of non-Maori origin we didn’t have the intimidation factor that is normally associated with the ritual.

After being outclassed in our first game of the tournament, we went into the second with a philosophical attitude that we still could make the knockout rounds with a victory in this game and a result in the one following. We played a team from Oklahoma and any ability they lacked in skill they certainly made up for in physical stature and sheer muscular prowess. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, I think I saw Appalachian Football Coach Jerry Moore there recruiting this Oklahoma team. Unfortunately, the result of this game was not what we hoped for. We played absolutely terrible in the first half, with our coach threatening to quit at its conclusion, but we picked up our play for the second half and rallied to come back from two nil down to eventually lose 3-2, with a much improved display.

Despite the disappointing result for the team, my performance had attracted the interest of Appalachian’s former Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach Liam Farrell and fortunately not Coach Moore. Farrell had been impressed with my performance and leadership in leading my team back from a two goal deficit, to score the equalizing goal, and see a draw snatched from our grasps in cruel ending to a very entertaining game.

However, if truth be known, it was the Haka that had attracted Farrell from the game he was watching to our team’s field and not necessarily because he thought a team from New Zealand playing a team from Oklahoma was going to be a valuable recruiting experience. (In my opinion, I think that Farrell was just curious to know what that high-pitched rhythmic sound was coming from the field next to him!) It just so happens that I did enough to attracted his attention and after a couple of months of negations I finally committed to Appalachian for the fall 2005. At the conclusion of the tournament I was the only one from my team to gain the opportunity and realize the dream of college soccer and university in America, and as they say, the rest is history. For the record, despite a hearty effort in our third and final match of the tournament, we disappointed again and were unable to get the result we desired.

Since I have been playing soccer at Appalachian I have had an awesome experience being a student-athlete that has taught me many important life lessons and opportunity to pursue extracurricular activities, such as SAAB (Student Athletic Advisory Board), with athletes who have a similar interest in giving back as me. These life lessons include time management with the juggling of assignments and school work around practices and games, and the ability to work in a team context towards a common cooperative goal. For me personally, being on an athletic team provided me with social support and access to a variety of people and resources that helped me immensely as an international student.

Finally, as I am about to embark on graduate school after this semester, undertaking my studies without the athletic component to my education is going to be unknown experience in which I’m probably going to have to adjust my “normal” routines for. Luckily, I have loved ones which will be able to help me through this potentially difficult transition away from athletics. This because I understand, without soccer I wouldn’t be where I am today, doing what I am doing. I am hugely thankful to Coach Farrell, for what was in reality was a huge gamble on his part, in recruiting me – a kid from New Zealand – who was a complete unknown quantity, except for one match.

I will end this piece with a remark I have been thinking about for some time, such is the depth of my gratitude to Coach Farrell and Appalachian Soccer. Coach Farrell and all the others I have interacted with during my eligibility of college soccer, I hope I meet your expectations as an athlete, as a student, and as a teenager who matured into a man. You have changed my life forever, thank you.

Next time I will divulge into how I ended up at Ashe County High School for the capstone experience of my undergraduate degree.

Until then,

~Cam

Do Work Son!

2009-02-19T23:29:00.004-05:00

Throughout my childhood I grew up with a father who participated in absolutely everything he possibly could. He was on my school’s board of trustees, the club soccer board, the district soccer board, and the regional soccer board. Additionally, this was all on top of his regular day job of a teacher, studying for a Master’s degree from home (it should be noted that at this time online degrees weren’t available either), coaching more than one soccer team, fundraising for all these various organizations, being and husband, and being a father. Nonetheless time with my father was limited, even nonexistent some nights. Consequently, from these fatherless nights I made a conscious decision to myself that I had already given enough to volunteer opportunities in the form of my father and that was enough for a lifetime. However, through my time Appalachian I have reconsidered my priorities and I, like my father, have become entangled in various volunteer positions.

Since I have come to Appalachian I have served in various roles ranging from jobs that have paid to volunteer positions. Now I could describe my compensated jobs, such as being an RA and working in the library because they have had a significant impact on my development and I enjoyed them both thoroughly. However, it is the volunteer opportunities that helped me mature as an adult, give back to the benefit of others, and have the most rewarding memories. Since I have been at App the most significant non-class related volunteer activities that I have participated in include being a member of SAAB (Student Athletic Advisory Board) – the student-athlete organization I am now vice-president of, SAB (Student Advisory Board) – a group of undergraduate students specifically selected to help integrate the new general education curriculum for the class of 2013, and writing these blogs so you can read about Appalachian through the eyes of a current student, as a “student blogger” for Appalachian Admissions. This is all on top of being the best student I can be and an athlete on the Men’s Soccer team. Now I am not going to lie, all these commitments have their time obligations and occasionally I have conflict with my loved ones over where I am portioning my time, but I wouldn’t change any of it for the world, as participating in these extracurricular activities fulfill me and always keeps me occupied with an activity that’s meaningful and provides me with a purpose.

One positive that initially possessed me to undertake all these extra responsibilities is so I could list them on my resume. However, I have learnt there is a deeper value to giving back than just being able to put the activity on my resume. As I am an international student from New Zealand and I consequently rely on the generosity and love of many people in the Appalachian family to help me survive and be successful, I feel I owe a great deal to everyone who has invested in me and helped me be all that I can be. Therefore, by me participating in a range of extracurricular activities I feel as though I am saying thank you to at least some of these people. The reason why I say I’m only thanking “some of these people” is because I can’t begin to comprehend the range of people that have impacted my life here at Appalachian and I can’t begin to appreciate them all enough by giving my time, because then I wouldn’t even have time to sleep!

Another positive that being involved in all these extracurricular activities has helped me learn is the skill of time management. This is going to be extremely beneficial to me in whatever I undertake in the future because I never allow things to get on top of me and I always manage to prioritize the most urgent commitments. This not only helps reduce my stress of level, but the people I interact with also.

Finally, when I’m a father myself, my level of commitment to extracurricular activities may differ to what it is now, what my own father did, and I may have to reprioritize, at least I can pursue other commitments in my life with the peace of mind knowing I have attempted to give back to an institution that has provided me with so much over the past four years. Again, Appalachian has taught me to love something greater than myself.

Next time I will talk about the significance of soccer on my educational career at Appalachian.

Until then...

~ Cam

PETE showed me the light...

2009-02-03T13:52:00.003-05:00

Ok, so on this edition of going down memory lane of my Appalachian experience I am going to sing the praises of my major, affectionately known as the PETE program.

The PETE program, also known as the Physical Education Teacher Education program, here at App has provided me with a more thorough higher education than I ever imagined. The faculty's outstanding personality's and teaching provided me with the ideal example for which to enter the professional world with. Dr. Mohr, Dr. Townsend, Dr. Sibley, Dr. McKethan, Dr. Kernodle, Professor Morris, and Mr. Osborne have been outstanding to me and I seriously couldn't have asked for any more out of a higher education program.

Through the Physical Education Teacher Education program I have had numerous professional experiences along with all my content class work. Notably, I have co-taught a college level, basic instruction Physical Education course (Jogging & Conditioning, PE1013-132, Spring 2008), I have had experience working with students with a variety of developmental disabilities, and I have instructed a basic Physical Education unit for home-schooled children in the region of Boone. And this is all before student-teaching!!! I have had numerous other tutoring and coaching experiences in addition to the above that have helped me develop as a person and a professional. This development includes (but is not limited to) the ability to juggle multiple responsibilities as a beginning teacher, student, and whatever role I choose to undertake, the learning of technology competencies to be technically literate in the world we live in, the enhancement of my interpersonal communication and relationship skills, and finally the development of my desire to become lifelong learner.

Now a word of warning...the PETE program is going to make you work, and work hard from the start when you enter Pro-Block One. Don't think your going to cruise through this degree and play games for all four years. You are going to become a competent, literate, and enthusiastic Physical Educator who is accountable for student learning, which should be the goal of any education program. However, in my opinion, (someone who is near the end) it's worth every single moment and sacrifice.

Do you dare to take the challenge?

Next time, I am going to talk to you about how Appalachian developed me into a person who wanted to give back and get involved in extracurricular activities.

~Cam

P.s. Today I am extremely pleased because I have now received two acceptances to Graduate Schools for Exercise Science. The University of Memphis today confirmed my acceptance, along with my previous conditional acceptance at Loughborough University, United Kingdom. (However, I am still waiting to hear about my Graduate Assistantship applications, which is what I need to attend either of these institutions.) Therefore, some difficult decisions still await.

P.s.s. I think these acceptances to Graduate School's are prime examples of how thoroughly the PETE program has prepared me.

Love of Learning

2009-01-20T15:17:00.008-05:00

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

Welcome Back

2009-01-10T20:07:00.003-05:00

This is it, my final semester at Appalachian State University is about to begin. However, it’s going to be a somewhat non-traditional semester in term of classes for me because I am student-teaching. Consequently, right now I am feeling a little over-whelmed, although, deep-down I know the physical education program and Reich College of Education has prepared me for the challenges that lie ahead. One could even apply this to not only my student-teaching experience, but whatever the next chapter of my life entails, but more on that later.

Since this is my last semester here at App I am going to try and reminisce over the most memorable moments of my undergraduate college experience. Some of you may find my recollections boring but hopefully they’ll give you a great insight to an institution which has influenced my life in more ways than just providing me a career path.

To start this journey through my memory I think I should start by acknowledging every single person who has touched my life. Appalachian has been absolutely amazing to me, and I really can’t understand how I managed to get so spoiled. I think back from the day my soccer coach picked me up from the airport in Charlotte, I was just a nervous 18 year old not knowing what to expect. Since then mates, partners, colleagues, teachers, team mates, and friends have helped develop me into the mature young man I am today. In the future, when I think back of my undergraduate career academics and sports will not be the first thing to come to mind, despite their significant impact. It will be the people of Appalachia. I am eternally grateful to everyone who I encounter and I hope someday to pay it forward, in some capacity, to all those who I encounter.

Next blog I try to divulge how Appalachian helped expose my love of learning and developed me into a lifelong learner.

Until next time,

~ Cam

Done and Dusted

2008-12-06T19:44:00.005-05:00

We'll I've been talking about it for weeks but exams are finally around the corner. Therefore to post this blog, I am taking a well deserved study break.

Additionally, because the end of the year is just around the corner this will probably be my last post before the Christmas holiday's begin. I like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and safe holiday season and thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. It doesn't matter whether you have been multiple times or this is your first time, thank you for not making my posts a complete waste and I hope you learnt something about the Appalachian way of life. Feel free to drop me a line anytime.

I am looking forward to next semester with optimism and excitement as it is my final semester before I graduate. I happen to be student-teaching Physical Education in the High Country area at Ashe-County High School and that should be a great experience. Concluding graduation I am still unaware of my exact plans are, however, I have been unofficially accepted to an Exercise Physiology program at Loughborough University in England which would be an awesome and exciting challenge if I choose to accept it. I'm taking a visit to the University of Memphis early in the New Year to check out their Exercise Science grad-program also. I'll probably make a decision shortly after that.

This is my first Christmas I am going to be away from my Mum and family. I am spending it with my partner, Ali, with her family up in to Connecticut. A white Christmas will certainly be different to the beach weather I am used to in New Zealand at this time of the year.

Until next year, take care and all the best.

~Cam

Time is Money and Money's on...Sale!

2008-11-14T22:40:00.004-05:00

Well the reason why I didn't update my blog last week, which would be my normal biweekly installment, is testament to what college students consider "that time of the semester." "That time of the semester" is especially profound in the Fall because of where Thanks Giving falls. Thanks Giving is not this coming week, but the week after, then the University gets a few days off, then we're back for a week and half and its finals!....Whoa!!!! Where did the time fly?

Thanks Giving for me is an unusual holiday celebration and I unfortunately have a difficult time remembering what exactly we are thanking the Founding Fathers for. However, I am extremely thankful for the great friends and people that I have meet in the United State's and at Appalachian.

Although I have only experienced Thanks Giving three times before this one I have still created my own Thanks Giving tradition. This is making sure that I spend my holiday with one of my best friends Todd King. This is because when I was a freshman, fresh off the boat from New Zealand, my mate Todd took me under his wing and befriended me and helped acclimatize me to the rigors of the United States college life. Consequently, he invited me to Thanks Giving and now I am extremely close with his family. Therefore, even though now he has graduated from App and in the professional world I still make the trek to where ever he is and spend Thanks Giving with him and is loved one. This is despite having numerous offers from other friends and families, including my partner's.

Being Thanks Giving time also means that Fall sports are winding to a close. Unfortunately the Men's soccer finished the season on a disappointing note, losing to College of Charleston in the Southern Conference tournament. Despite this, it was a winning season and we have a lot to be proud of. The program under Shaun Pendleton and his staff have set a great base from which to build for future. Additionally, fingers cross that Football can get it done and win its fourth straight Southern Conference and National Championship in the coming weeks. Best of luck guys.

As a final thought...although the soccer season has finished my NCAA eligibility expired after its fourth and final season, I can look back and be proud of what I have achieved as a student-athlete. Although this chapter of my life has now closed, another chapter of my life has opened. This new chapter is fresh, with exciting challenges waiting to be explored. Appalachian, on the field as well as off it, has prepared me thoroughly for whatever lies ahead.

Until next time,

~Cam

It's cold, dark, and windy...may be this is a sign of the times...or may be it's just Boone.

2008-10-24T07:04:00.004-04:00

Halloween...Southern Conference playoffs ...school cranking up the heat...it must almost be November and crunch time again. The fact that I am rising at 6 am to update my blog epitomizes that fact that I have no time for anything other than academics and athletes at this stage of the year.

Academically, I am checking out my diary and syllabi's regularly to see for assignments that are due and I just can't figure out when I am going to have time to complete them all. I have a lesson plan due here, a reflection due there, an investigation's waiting for me to complete it over there, and tests galore coming up, just to name a few things on my plate.

Athletes on the other hand is cranking up the pressure too. The Men's Soccer team have two regular season games remaining and then it's Southern Conference playoff time. From then on out its pretty much sudden death, you lose and your seasons over. We recorded a great win against ACC foe Virginia Tech on Tuesday night and hopefully this is a sign that we are coming into form just at the right time. As a senior, if anyone is interested, it is Senior Day on Sunday the 26th of October. It would be great to see as many people as possible come out, support and give their appreciation to the four seniors (including myself) who will be playing their last home game for Appalachian State (playoffs depending.)

I'm in my last stages of preparing for the GRE's. As my roommate and professor told me, you can't exactly "study" for this exam (because it luck whether or not you get a question you recognize and its suppose to be a test where you have learnt all the content throughout your college career) but you can prepare yourself strategically to answer certain questions in certain ways, and that's what I'm doing. With all the school work I'm finding it hard to schedule study, but in the end I know where my priorities lie and time is being found (I don't know from where though.)

I'm sorry that my post is similar to the one I wrote last time. May be this is an indication of what my life is like for me at the moment. Even my partner and Mum are catching the short end of the stick when it comes to communicating because I have so much stuff to do.

Fingers crossed I get it done. Anyway, I've got to fly, it's 7:30am and my job in the I.MC. of the school library is calling my name. Hopefully my boss understands why I'm a few minutes late.

Until next time...

~Cam

Half full or half empty...

2008-10-10T20:33:00.004-04:00

I can't believe that it's fall break already next week, this semester has flown by so far. After fall break its only a month and a bit until December and then finals...wow!

I'm starting to fell the crunch right now though. All my professors coming up with either mid-term exams or mid-semester projects. Also, I'm trying to study for the GRE's (Graduate Record Examinations) which I have booked for the beginning of November. Plus, athletics for me is mid season and the countdown is focusing firmly on the Socon Championships, at the start of November at Davidson.

The GRE's are the graduate school version of the SAT tests. All the graduate programs I have investigated in the U.S. have all asked for specific scores on the GRE. Although my undergraduate degree is in physical education, teacher education I feel that I want to change focus in my life and I loved all the Exercise Physiology I was required to take for PETE, so I think I am going to diversify in this area. Therefore, to get into various Exercise Science programs around the U.S. in need to score around 900-1000 in the verbal and quantitative aspects of the GRE's. I can't really learn content for this exam, however, I can prepare and learn strategies to take the exam better (hopefully with less pressure, lol) and this is what I am doing for study right now.

Men's soccer at App is going well. We are 7-4 overall and 2-1 in conference. We take on Georgia Southern this weekend at home (Brookshire Park @ 1pm) in a tough conference match. If we play with desire and come out on top in this one, we will up our confidence, and push the "Big Dance" tournament committee even further to include us in their final playoff picture.

Other than the stress or classes, GRE's, and soccer everything at Appalachian is treating me dandy. The weather here is finally turning cooler and we are getting a few more wet days. However, seeing the trees and flora change color from green to shades or red/yellow/orange is absolutely amazing and beautiful and I wouldn't want to change it for the world.

Until next time,

best wishes.

Time to get down to work.

2008-09-26T16:12:00.002-04:00

Hope you are doing well.

The semester has well and truly started. Assignments, readings, and class work are in full swing and I'm feeling the burn. I'm not quite at the stress level quite yet, but juggling 18 hours of class work with soccer and the other extra-curricular activities I am doing, it's getting kind of tough. Although, my professors are only just giving me my money's worth, lol.

On top of all the school work, I am in the process of figuring out what I want to do with my life. I am contacting a lot of professors and Appalachian administration about what to do if I want to go to graduate school. I'm not sure if I want to stay at Appalachian (don't get me wrong, I love the people and the place) but I want to get out and see the country. Anyway, the advise I have been receiving has been extremely helpful in guiding me with my prospective decisions. I urge you, if you have any questions about coming to Appalachian, don't hesitate to contact some. This could include me, the admissions office, or a program your thinking about studying under. We're only too willing to help.

The soccer team is doing well, we are currently 5-2, with Radford University tomorrow. We had a very creditable result against #1 ranked Wake Forest midweek, and hopefully this holds us in good stead for the upcoming match, as well as the conference games starting next week.

Until next time,

~Cam

Another day, another dollar (I wish!)

2008-09-12T21:07:00.002-04:00

Hi, I hope this all finds you well.

So another week has been and it started off extremely well last week with the football team crushing Jacksonville 56-7.

On a personal level the Men's soccer team has had a successful start to the season, wining their first three games. Hopefully we can keep it up.

Results of all 20 sports on the mountain can be viewed at goasu.com.

Classes have well and truly started now and I am going to give you an insight to my class schedule:

CI3850 (Literacy, Technology & Instruction): This is required education course about the three aspects mentioned in its name. So far the instructor has been interesting and knowledgeable, despite it being two and a half hours long (but only once a week.)

CI4020 (Teaching Physical Education): This class is required for my major and I basically can't wait for the field experience aspect of this course to start. This is where I go out to the public schools and teach physical education to school children.

DAN2014 (Dance Appreciation): This course is to fulfill the humanities requirement of my major. It's certainly a different course compared to what I am used to but the instructor provides a fun and cool perspective on a subject I have limited knowledge of.

HED3450 (School Health Programs): This class is to fulfill the requirements of my second concentration, health education.

HED4650 (Drug Education & Prevention): Again this class is to fulfill the requirements of my second concentration, health education and the instructor is extremely funny and likes to play his guitar as an instructional method.

PE4002 (Psychological Aspects of Sport): Finally, this class is required for my major and is extremely interesting and i love turning up. I love learning how sport and exercises affects psychological aspects of people and how psychology affects the performance of sport and exercise. The only bad side to this course that i can think of is that it is at 8am, lol.

Therefore, this semester i am currently taking 18hours worth of classes which is semi-difficult (15 is the norm and 21 is considered difficult - i can attest for this.) However, because 5 out of my 6 classes are required to be a physical education major with a health education endorsement it isn't too bad because this is what I want to do with my life after college.

Anyway, this is a typical schedule for a senior student at Appalachian and I hope it gives an insight to what might be in store in the future.

Take care and I'll talk to you later.

~Cam

Hello

2008-08-28T12:27:00.001-04:00

Hello there, I hope all is well.

I suppose because this is my first blog I should introduce myself.

My name is Cam McCarthy and I am a Senior Physical Education student here at Appalachian State. Also, I am a defender on the Men's Soccer team, and a member of S.A.A.B. (Student Athletic Advisory Board), and S.A.B. (Student Advisory Board.)

Originally I am from New Zealand. I was raised in New Zealand to New Zealand parents and I was recruited to Appalachian by Men's Soccer Assistant Coach Liam Farrell after seeing me play for my New Zealand club team at the 2005 Dallas Cup.

Coming to Appalachian State was a significant change in my life but one in which I have no regrets. The hospitality and generosity shown by fellow students, staff, and faculty have been second to none and I have been challenged significantly inside and outside the class room. Appalachian has helped me grow into a leader, but more importantly it has guided my development from boy to man.

I'll let you know a little bit more about the Appalachian way of life in future blogs but for right now you just need to know that Appalachian is not only a great place to receive a higher education from but it's a great place to grow.

Take care and I'll talk to you later.

~Cam