While I am learning from yesterday and living for today, I hold deep hopes for tomorrow... By: Onnalee Gibson
My graduation from Michigan State University’s Master’s in Education program marks a significant milestone in my formal learning as not only an educator, but a student. While I have been officially aspiring toward this since the summer of 2011, it is a long-time academic and personal goal I set for myself at a young age. As a lover of learning, I have been completely dedicated to reaching the graduate level and plan to earn my PhD as soon as possible. My Master’s is certainly a worthwhile milestone, but it is not the end of my formal schooling. Although I believe that learning spans a lifetime, I have hopes that my formal education will never end; I thoroughly enjoy the depth of scholarship that takes place within the university atmosphere. It is this passion of knowledge that has fueled my ambition to become a university professor.
Ironically, I never wanted to enter the teaching profession. As a child, I planned to eventually earn a PhD, but fancied myself as a marine biologist or maybe an anthropologist—certainly not a teacher. I was completely aware of the amount of effort required by truly effective teachers since my grandfather was a high school instructor. Yet, shortly before my initial graduation from the College of Social Science in 2006, I had the opportunity to speak with a group of middle school students about the political turmoil in the Middle Eastern region. To my astonishment, I truly enjoyed the experience. In fact, I was invited back to the school to present to high school students regarding the same topic. I found that my mind had been made up prematurely about the obligations of teachers; I had not realized how gratifying teaching young people could be—especially if I could make Social Studies both accessible and interesting.
In 2006, after graduating with my Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at MSU, I entered their College of Education as an undergraduate; within two years I completed the program (with high honor) and received my Secondary Education Provisional Certificate of Social Science. Although it is a requirement for holders of the provisional certificate to complete additional college credits, I firmly believe that my Master’s has provided a direct benefit to my career choice as a teacher and eventually as a professor. The experiences I had as student in MSU’s undergraduate program have absolutely attributed to my success in the past four years as a high school teacher, and continues to forward my growth as an educator and student in the Master’s in Education program.
My Master’s has enhanced my ability to deliberately critique my own curricular decisions on a level not previously experienced. Continuous exposure to the text of top educational thinkers, well-orchestrated curriculum, and experience with deeper educational pedagogy has truly enhanced my aptitude as an educator. Pursuing a Master’s degree involves more than simply acquiring additional certifications; it is a chance to think critically about my work, making sure that I am using the best practices available for the benefit of each of my students. I believe that my pursuit of betterment has allowed me to take part in the personal critiquing necessary for academic, professional, and personal growth. It is within my graduate work in the Master’s program that I have found such research, along with self-discovery, the most possible. I have not only gained absolute critical tools of modern teaching (i.e. technological advancements, various student reading/writing comprehension techniques, self-inquiry practices, etc.), I believe I have moved even closer to my academic goals. Becoming an effective teacher is the most valuable goal I could hope to attain—and something I will continue to strive for as I continue my educational endeavors. But, I will be resuming my pathway to a PhD within the next couple years.
Receiving my Master’s in Education from Michigan State University marks a gratifying milestone in my academic life as well as my professional career. It has been an exciting, frustrating, liberating, and altogether worthwhile journey—one that does not end with a certificate, but will continue long after this spring’s commencement ceremony. I intend to remain on my formal educational path through a PhD, but will also remain a student of education, learning from experiences, my own students, and further independent studies. While I am learning from yesterday and living within today, I hold deep hopes for my education tomorrow…