Narrowing My Focus

As I have mentioned many times, I have gone through this process over the past year of realizing that I am capable of doing and achieving so much more than I am right now.  I feel like I am Indiana Jones right before he takes the first step across the Leap of Faith. I don’t know what is going to be there when I take that step, but I trust that it is what I must do.

I have all the abilities (mostly because I have convinced myself of it, and I have proven it to myself), but I just need to take that first step and do what I haven’t done in the past: follow through.

So now I have realized the value that I can bring to the world. Now I realize that I have so many more skills than I even know what to do with and that could fit into one job category.  Here I go to list them:

I am a helper, a teacher, a coach, an encourager, a writer, and an editor. 

My passion is writing curriculum. I love breaking down large pieces of complicated information into easy to follow steps that anyone can follow: from the people who think they can’t to the people who already think they know how.  I love creating activities and lessons that teach these concepts in a fun and creative way.  I can create the whole picture and the small activities. I love coaching people through this process and helping them to make them a better presenter and teacher.

I also love teaching.  I realize after each time that I get in front of any class, “Hey, I’m really good at this!”  I know how to manage a class, be clear with my expectations and move the point along.  I don’t like to always admit it, but I have become a decent public speaker.  Public speaking is my most challenging piece, not because I am bad at it, but my mind and insecurities have a hard time admitting that I have become pretty good.

I can coach and support people to get better at anything academic in nature: reading, speaking, or writing.  I can quickly see their qualities, what skills they are lacking, and steps that I and they can take to make them better.  I am positive and can present feedback in a palatable way. 

I can learn and teach myself anything as I have done in the past few months.  I had no idea how to do much graphic design, business, or website anything.  Now for most of these things I used tutorials and helpful websites, like venngage and canva, but if you don’t know much about this type of technology it can be a daunting task.  I have also taken quite a few online classes in the past year, so I am comfortable with navigating blackboard, canvas, and schoology as Learning Management Systems.  I have realized quickly that this online teaching platform is growing so quickly that there is going to be a huge disparity between teachers who can and teachers who can’t.  I also have experience doing video teachings through youtube and screencast-o-matic.   Basically, I have everything I need to be an effective online teacher. 

As far as my education goes, I am a Literature and Writing Major, I have a vast knowledge of American History, and I’m currently in a Master’s program to teach English as a second language to adults.  But my experience as an educator has given me the ability to teach basic math, science, or any other subject that I have time to do research on.  My experience in curriculum development has given me the skills to be able to break down new information so that I can teach it.  And currently, in my Master’s program, I am slowly but surely learning how to write for an educated audience.

Finally, my faith is a huge part of my life.  Anything that I do, I want it to be fulfilling the purpose that God has for my life.  I am not only an overconfident, leaning toward egotistical, Veteran Marine, I am also a child of God, and I know that He has a calling on my life.  

I started this wondering how I was going to narrow down my platform, but I think I did it.  You are probably seeing the same thing as I am.  I am a teacher, coach, writer, and curriculum developer.  My platform is teaching skills in becoming a better reading, writing, and speaking.

Now the question is, what do I do with this?

 

 

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