Tag Archives: Miami Dade College

August 6, 2012 · 1:40 pm

Dreaming About Teaching

A few nights ago I was dreaming about teaching. It was a vivid dream and it had me waking up with a wave of excitement. In the dream it was the first day of school, my students were coming into my room and I was teaching them history. This is easily the best dream I’ve had in a while.

I started down the path towards becoming a professional educator about a year ago. The genesis of my journey was my job at the Miami Dade College (MDC) Single Stop Program. I arrived at MDC via the national service program AmeriCorps VISTA with the purpose of fulfilling a passion of working with at risk communities. That passion was definitely nurtured by the many opportunities the Single Stop program offered, and by far my greatest memory, aside from meeting and helping many students, is the staff at the program.

One of the opportunities I had was going into classrooms across three separate MDC campuses and speak with students about the Single Stop program and its benefits to them. Over the course of my year at MDC I became familiar with several of the professors, having visited their classrooms numerous times. The experience of being the classroom, combined with several conversations I had with different professors, opened my eyes towards the possibility of becoming a teacher. Thus when my AmeriCorps year ended in January of this year, I began teaching at MDC as well as Broward College.

I taught Public Speaking and Intro to Communication during the spring semester and LOVED IT! The material, the students, and the learning process were a revelation to me. I became enthralled with it all, but I also found myself feeling like I didn’t have enough time with the students. I would only see them twice a week, but I felt a nudge inside telling me that I wanted more. Before the semester was finished I decided that I wanted to teach grade level students, and so I set to work determining what would have to be done to do it.

Becoming a teacher in Florida for people who did not graduate college with a teaching degree is not an easy process. If you want to know more about it click here. I’ve passed my General Knowledge test and I’m enrolling in the Educator Preparation Institute at Broward College to fulfill other requirements listed in my Florida Department of Education Statement of Status letter. There are also two more exams, the subject area and professional, which I must pass before earning my professional license. There’s a lot to accomplish, but I believe that great things begin with a dream and determination. I’ve had the determination, and now I’ve had the dream!

Blog Note: It’s been a while since my last posting. This has occurred for several reasons, the first being that internet connectivity on the Big Cypress reservation is tenuous at best. When a storm comes rolling through, as happens often during the summer months, you can expect the internet to be down for day, if not more. The second is that I took my honeymoon during the month of May, and a family trip to Oklahoma during the month of June. These two trips were both tremendous for what I was able to see and experience, but also for the amount of energy and time they took up. The third reason was my volunteering during July at a summer camp in Moore Haven, FL. This was a part of the Summer Food Service Program I wrote about before. The last and most significant reason is that my family, at the end of May, took in a five month old foster child. I’ll elaborate on this more later, but I’ll say now that taking in this child has been a rewarding time for my family. He is a wonderful boy, full of life and laughter. It has also been an adjustment for all of us, my wife, my son, and I. Diapers, formula, teething, sleepless nights, and even a trip to the ER, these last few months have been chock full of newness for us all.

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May 2, 2012 · 12:09 pm

First Time Experiences in Teaching

“Were we your best first class ever?”  A student recently asked me this question on the last day of our class.  For those present that night, the answer I gave was a diplomatic one – “Of course, it’s not like I’ll ever have another.”  This answer was met with mutual laughter from the students and me, partly by my answer and also partly in the relief that comes with knowing the semester was ending.  Our lives are filled with memories of first-time experiences, and my first class definitely set a positive tone for my collegiate teaching experience.

Around the country there are thousands of students wrapping up their first year in college.  Some are headed off to summer jobs, others are focused on summer classes, but all have experienced a year of newness – new friends, new difficulties, and new adventures.  Remembering back to the end of my first year, I couldn’t wait to get out of the dorm and enjoy the break.

I’m finding myself reflecting back on the end of that first year in college now because I recently finished my first semester of teaching at two community colleges.  I had the honor of teaching public speaking and an introductory communication class.  All in total I had about 90 students for the semester, separated into four classes.  I thoroughly enjoyed all of the classes, each took on its own dynamic and the students were great.

The first classroom I walked into was an evening class; it began at 5:40 p.m.  I was very nervous that first class, I recall practicing over and over what I would say beforehand.  The students were a mix of traditional and non-traditional, meaning that some were ages 18-24 while others were ages 25-40.  It was definitely a new feeling to look at each one and know I would be responsible for helping them to learn the material in our syllabus.  This first class, for many reasons, will be in my memory forever.

Students aside, this first semester was one massive learning experience for me.  I learned several things, the first relating to this being my first time teaching.  I found myself over prepared and over planned for the first month or so of class.  This wasn’t a negative; I just noticed that I often had to pare down the material that I planned to cover so that it would fit into the scheduled class time.  I often tried to place myself into the students’ shoes by asking myself “Would I have learned X, W, or Z from this particular lesson?”  This constant reflection helped me throughout the semester; I’d often change how I was planning to teach after I answered it.

If I were to be asked by that student again “Were we your best first class ever?” my answer would be a resounding YES!  I’m thankful for that first class and the experiences I had in class with them.  They all performed admirably in class and I appreciate their commitment to getting themselves educating.  I’m grateful to have been there for a step in reaching their goal – earning their diploma.

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February 8, 2012 · 5:06 pm

The Power of Half and Hunger

There’s been a book in our bookshelf at home that I’ve been meaning to read titled “The Power of Half”.  It’s got a funky looking cover and a catchy subtitle that reads “One Family’s Decision to Stop Taking and Start Giving Back”.  Intrigued by the cool looking cover and provoking title, I picked up the book a few days ago and began reading.  Little did I know that only a few chapters in that it would inspire me to craft my own commitment, which I’ve unimaginatively titled The Power of Half and Hunger.

The book is written by Kevin Salwen and Hannah Salwen, the father and daughter who comprise half of the Salwen family.  The family was inspired to effect changes in the disparities prevalent in today’s society.  Jarred to action by several experiences, the family decided to sell their mansion, buy a house half its size, and give half the sale price to a worthy charity.  You can check it out more for yourself by visiting the book’s website.

As I wrote earlier, I’ve only read the first few chapters, only up unto the point where the family is prepping to move out of their mansion.  Despite not having completed the book yet I’ve already been inspired to integrate the prevailing concept of the book – giving half of what we have to those who have less – into my own personal life.  The great thing about the concept is that it can be molded to fit our own lives in an appropriate manner, and thus my commitment took shape out of a previous experience.

I was previously a member of AmeriCorps, serving at Miami Dade College in a program designed to connect low-income people to government benefits to help them augment their finances while they complete their degree.  Through this experience I became gripped by hunger and its effects on society, I haven’t viewed many things the same.  It is here that the origin to my commitment is grounded.

I’ve committed to giving half of what I grocery shop for to local organizations that seek to end hunger.  What this means is that if my total grocery bill comes to $20, then half of that will be given to ending hunger.  I’ve yet to figure out which food bank or food pantry will receive my donation, but I know whichever gets selected will put food to excellent use.

I believe that my commitment is reasonable and measurable.  It’s basic and sound.  It’s also not enough.  I know that my commitment will only be sufficient to feed a few when what is needed is enough to feed all.  This is why I’m putting my commitment out there, to see if you will do what you can.  Just start by checking out the book and see where it takes you.  If you’re like me, then you know the journey is more important than the destination.

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December 9, 2011 · 2:47 pm

I’m Choosing to be a Teacher

I recently read a blog posting titled Choose Teaching – be a teacher by Mike Tidd, a teacher in the United Kingdom.  Mike is a geography teacher and his blog is focused on education in the UK.  The title of his blog is what caught my eye and inspired this posting that you’re reading.  I was recently offered and accepted positions to teach as an adjunct professor at both Miami Dade College and Broward College starting in January 2012.  My decision to be a teacher is an interesting one.

Almost a year ago, in January of 2011, I first stepped foot on the North campus of Miami Dade College (MDC).  I was there on my first day as an AmeriCorps VISTA member.  I’d never been to MDC and my thoughts driving to the campus that day ranged from the usual – “where am I going to park” – to the silly – “what will my new colleagues be like”.  As I walked around campus that first day a feeling of comfort and ease washed over me, I knew that I was in the right place.

I came to MDC to positively impact the lives of students, and I believe through the work I’ve done with VISTA I’ve accomplished just that.  In June 2011, about half way through my VISTA year, I began looking for opportunities to remain at MDC.  I felt like there was much more to be done, more lives to be touched and more dreams to be fostered.  It was around this time that I met a retired professor, she’d taught for 30 years at MDC, and although retired, still taught a few classes a year.  She and I had a conversation about her teaching life, and afterwards she encouraged me to look into teaching at MDC as an option.

Her encouragement was a revelation to me, I’d never thought of teaching as something for me.  As a matter of fact when I think of teaching I think of my 4th grade teacher, she was my favorite teacher in grade school.  I met with other fulltime professors over the summer to get their input and thoughts about what teaching at MDC meant to them, and to better understand the role of teachers at the college level.  If I was going to decide to teach then I was going to give it all my effort.  In September I decided to submit my application to MDC, shortly thereafter I also applied to Broward College.

I’m choosing to be a teacher because the mission of the college fits perfectly into my own personal experience – Opportunity Through Education.  I’m choosing to be a teacher because I believe in investing in the future of others, I know I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if someone hadn’t invested in me.  I’m choosing to be a teacher because I want to make a help someone reach their goals of graduation and personal growth.

Above all other reasons, I’m choosing teaching because I care.

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December 5, 2011 · 12:01 pm

True Challenges and Difficulties of Earning a College Degree

Growing up on an Indian reservation allowed me to recognize the value of education and compelled me throughout my college years to stay focused on earning my degree.  I’m proud to be one of the first in my family to be able to say I’ve succeed in college.  Until recently, after joining AmeriCorps VISTA, I believed I’d overcome difficult challenges in earning that degree.  Working at the Miami Dade College Single Stop program has forever changed my perception and given me first-hand knowledge of the difference a college degree can make to people living in poverty.

When I visit classes at 8 a.m. it is not uncommon to find students who have just gotten off the graveyard shift trying to refocus for the days lecture.  Just after 5 p.m. I see the tired faces of people who have just worked all day walking in from the parking lot.  In between those hours I’m speaking with students who face outside the classroom issues such as homelessness, hunger, and health problems.  These people have given the words difficult and challenge new meaning to me, and their determined pursuit of a degree is their defining characteristic.

Despite their determination, those outside the classroom difficulties and challenges can prevent them from achieving their degree.  It’s difficult to study at night when the light bill hasn’t been paid.  Who can think about chemistry or trigonometry when there’s no food in the refrigerator?  Paying for books or tuition becomes secondary when the rent is due.  These students lack access to resources, and that is where the Single Stop program comes in.

Single Stop is a program that connects students to government benefits, such as SNAP, and offers them free access to financial counseling, legal assistance, and tax preparation.  I’m charged with several responsibilities at the Single Stop program, primarily SNAP outreach and volunteer coordination.  Building the volunteer program from scratch has not been easy, at times it has hectic and confusing, but it has been rewarding and beneficial for my efforts concerning SNAP outreach.

Since my VISTA year began in January of 2011 I’ve been able to recruit and train 141 student volunteers and I’ve supervised their completion of 1921 volunteer hours.  Each of these volunteers has assisted Single Stop with SNAP outreach.  Whether it was providing a friendly face at an information table in the student services building or welcoming students into the Single Stop office, each of these volunteers has helped to progress the mission of Single Stop and Miami Dade College.  Each of these volunteers has given their time to help address the difficulties and challenges that many students at Miami Dade College face.

The students that attend Miami Dade College are more than capable of earning their degree.  With a program such as Single Stop, and the volunteers that support it, addressing their outside the classroom issues attaining that degree gets closer to happening.

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November 3, 2011 · 10:00 am

Family Food Drive

In my current role as an AmeriCorps VISTA member I have had my eyes opened to the impact poverty and hunger has upon people in this country.  Working at the Single Stop program within Miami Dade College, I have had the realization that education can and does positively impact people who are experiencing poverty and hunger.  Putting my eye opening experience together with the realization that education does reduce poverty, I am not blind to the real life challenges that people face when attempting to better their lives.

I’ve met people, both young and old, who are at MDC to educate themselves, but can’t complete their degree because life off campus has prevented them from finishing.  When I see men and women getting on and off the bus every day to go to class, I am thankful to have a car.  When I hear people’s stories of family tragedy and personal pain, all distractions that took their focus off education and prolonged their matriculation through MDC, I am filled with empathy.  When I see the eyes of students go bleak and fill with despair as they talk about their problems, my heart aches for them.

When I speak to students in classrooms I always make sure to ask the question “Have you eaten breakfast?” or “Have you had lunch yet?” or “Who’s hungry right now?”  Hands rise to these questions all the time, people who no doubt are hearing the grumble of their stomachs.  I know from experience that when my stomach was empty my focus in wasn’t on what my professor was teaching, but rather on what I could be eating.

The difference between my stomach emptiness and that of many students at MDC is that I was blessed to not have to worry about where I was going to get my next meal.  Students, not just at MDC but all over the US, that lose focus because of hunger have a significantly high chance of not retaining information and knowledge.  The value of a good nutritional meal does wonders for the ability of people to progress educationally.

In recognition of the value of a good meal for not just overall health but especially in education retention, my family and I have decided to start a food drive.  The donations that we collect for this food drive are going to a local food pantry.  This is my first attempt to take the Feed The Fire paradigm and make it into something concrete and real.  Our family food drive has a goal of collecting 100 lbs. of food items for donation, it’s a challenge but one that I believe we can meet.

I challenge you to start up a food drive as well.  Click here to find where you can to donate to in your area.  I have my reasons to donate; maybe they’ll inspire you to as well.  I encourage you to find your own reason, your own purpose, to give back in your community.

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September 30, 2011 · 3:18 pm

Overweight and Underappreciated

I often find myself speaking in front of people in classrooms and organizational meetings at Miami Dade College.  Ostensibly I’m in front of these people to tell them about the Single Stop program, but in fact I’m there to spread inspirational and uplifting words.  I speak to them about my personal experiences and challenges to open their eyes to a simple paradigm:

Problems + Goals = Solutions

Recently I was speaking to a classroom full of students, each facing their own unique challenges.  I was getting into the wrap up of my dialogue, which consists of a helpful way to remember my name.  Since Jarrid is an easy name to forget I relate it to a more well-known person by the same name, that being Jared Fogle of Subway fame.  It’s rare that you’ll find a person who hasn’t heard of Subway, or tried one of their subs. 

We’re all somewhat familiar with Jared’s story – overweight person | eats at Subway | now average weight person.  I see many of the students’ minds click at this moment, the brand recognition of Subway and Jared works really well for my purpose of increasing name memorability.  I then share that I too used to be overweight, due in large part to me playing football at FAU.  I tell the students that I used to weigh 300 pounds, whereas now I weight about 200 pounds.  It’s at this point that I’ll usually tie in the simple paradigm:

Overweight + Desire to live healthily = Motivation to lose weight

At this point the people in the audience will react with disbelief, astonishment, doubt, or surprise.  They’ve been listening to me speak for 20-30 minutes, buying into the simple paradigm with each minute, only to reject it when I share my personal and tangible story to its proof.

I was particularly stirred today when a student, with conviction, said “I don’t believe you, that can’t be true”.  To that student today I said “I told you earlier that I recently graduated from college, but I didn’t show you the degree.  Why didn’t you say then that you didn’t believe that?”  Her response was “Having your degree is easier to believe, losing the weight isn’t”.

This interaction astounded me!  How could a person easily believe, without tangible evidence, a statement like “I recently graduated” yet so quickly dismiss “I lost 100 pounds”?  Oh but there is tangible evidence, besides the stretch marks, to me weighing 300 pounds:

I share this blog posting with you to implore you to take up the simple paradigm and apply it to your life.  Problems are never easy to solve, but they become impossible when you do not have a goal in mind.  Share this simple paradigm with those around you.  It’s especially useful for people who are better at identifying the problems than at setting goals for solutions. 

There will always be a doubter much like to woman in this story.  Don’t allow them to stand in your way.  Set your mind to goals and solve those problems!

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