School's out!

[heather_80]

Thanks be, my first term in social studies is finally done. There are some possible revisions for a group paper still to be written, but probably not, and definitely no more lessons before fall. I'm really tired, but it was all worth while, and also a lot more fun than sitting at home busy being unemployed with no hope of a good job. You learn to live with that, too, but I hope I'll never have to learn it again...
   I thought I'd take stock of what I've learned just a little, since a few of you were kind enough to ask me how I like my new field of study. So, this is what I've learned about myself this year.

1. I'm easy to approach, seriously. People of any age, gender or culture find they can talk to me, and do.
2. I like teaching and talking in front of an audience, and I can make myself understood easily.
3. I have a quiet voice and need to practice shouting to make myself heard. This is going to be very important in working with kids.
4. I seriously need to relax and be completely alone for at least a part of each day.
5. I'm calmer in other peoples' eyes than in my own, and I can make people calm down and listen.
6. I can work much harder than I give myself credit for.
7. I can write a paper on almost any subject in my field, and think of it as good fun.
8. I can learn new ways of thinking without giving up my ideas.
9. I can talk about religion and politics without proselytizing or putting people off.

So, that's what I've gained from these studies; a lot more self-confidence and understanding of who and where I am as a person. It's called professional growth, they tell us, and I really hope it continues like this. I still have issues with my computer, with being positive and smiling all the time (to clarify, I'm a Finn, and we don't do smiling quite as much as e.g. Americans), and working in teams to accomplish in a month what I could do on my own given a week,  but I'm getting there.
   I'm going to devote a lot of time to reading this summer, and also some knitting, watching movies, designing on Polyvore (my handle is domino-80, in case you want to look me up), and adding to my Pinterest collection. I also hope, and mean to, get back to blogging some more. So, hopefully see you soon!