Practical Writing
I have found myself returning to my "Supplementary Application" practical writing assignment throughout the year. The questions that were so applicable to the many, many applications I have had to fill out throughout grade 12, thus I felt like it was important to acknowledge them in my summative portfolio.
The one adjustment I made was ridding the responses of phrases like "as silly as it sounds", so as not to detract from the message that I am trying portray.
Supplementary Application Questions
There have been many experiences that have led me to pursue a career in education, but the essence of the reason is in an experience with a camper I had one summer. The camper was very sweet, however she had an affinity for the word “no”, which prevented her from participating in many of the activities. Every day, I tried different strategies to help her experience all camp had to offer, but nothing worked. By Thursday, I was very discouraged. As the other girls in my cabin excitedly got ready to go on a canoeing adventure, she began to cry and refused to join the others. After sending the other campers with the lifeguard, I sat down with her. Throughout the week, I had noticed that the singing time seemed to peak her interest, so that’s what we did. Once she was calm, I told her that she would be going in the canoe with me for the duration of three songs of her choosing. To my surprise, she agreed. Though she was nervous throughout the experience, when we returned to shore, she ran up to the first girl she saw and exclaimed “I love canoeing!”. That is why I want to be a teacher. I have seen first hand how tenacity can cause a small but significant change in a child’s life and getting the opportunity to spend my career doing just that would be a gift I would not dare waste.
Select one extra-curricular or service activity that you have been involved in and tell what you have learned from this process.
One of the cornerstones of our school’s annual banquet, for which I led the planning committee, is the opportunity to take quality photographs together. Unfortunately, the only place available that was within our price range did not have an aesthetically pleasing exterior. When I presented this issue, the committee executives replied there was nothing we could do. This taught me a very important lesson: Just because someones says “it won’t work” doesn’t make it true. Thus, I still researched until I found a beautiful city park we could use for photos ten minutes away from the venue, which presented a roadblock: transportation. I told the planning committee about my idea, and after some discussion, we came to the solution of renting busses, showing me that group work can solve just about anything. Then, the question was how do we actually rent buses, which led to the third lesson: when you’re lost, consult someone with experience. Our vice-principal helped us sort out the rental issue, and from there, everything was smooth sailing. Most importantly, we got our pretty photos. In short, planning spring banquet taught me that when you are tackling a challenge, persist against doubts, talk with people until you find a solution, and seek advice.
Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why.
When I told my oldest sister that I tend to be detail-oriented, organized, and decisive in group projects, she didn’t believe me. At home, she sees the side of me that is more easy going, and unlike her, I don’t make my bed everyday. This taught me that people are multifaceted; who someone is really depends on the situation they’re in. As a student, I am very grades-oriented, meaning that I will always do whatever it takes to achieve the best grade possible, leading me to dedicate a great amount of hours and effort into my work. Because of this, I have to consciously work on balancing this with a healthy social life. As a friend, I am loud and like to laugh, but also like to be there to listen when my friends need to talk. As a leader, I generally take my big ideas and the big ideas of those I’m working with and then try to find practical ways to implement them. This leads me to make lots of lists and delegate to those who have the specific skills to implement the vision. As a subordinate, I follow instructions closely, and act with the goal to please my administrator. This often leaves me with extra work, which I’m generally happy to do. I am most proud of anytime I am able to make someone feel valued.
What is important to you and why?
When I think about what I value, what sustains me, what I would hold onto if I had to give everything else away, I think about my relationships. The people I have met in my life have shaped me into who I am, and are invaluable to the core of my being. My mum has shown me what being a servant leader looks like and how you can treat people with a balance of kindness and humour. My dad has taught me the value of determination and working tirelessly for good and for the people you love. My sisters have taught me how to differentiate when to work and when to rest. Interacting with my friends has revealed that sometimes the people you can laugh with are the same people you can philosophize with. Most importantly, my relationship with God is what keeps me grounded no matter where I am in life. These relationships are what is important to me. They are what will keep me motivated and inspired in the midst of failure. They are what will encourage and uplift me in times of difficulty. They are what will be there after graduation, and will keep me running towards the finish line. The people I love are what make me the person I am, because they push me to be the best of who I am, but love me even when I’m not.
The one adjustment I made was ridding the responses of phrases like "as silly as it sounds", so as not to detract from the message that I am trying portray.
Supplementary Application Questions
Talk about your past experiences and how they have prepared you for your area of study.
I have had a few experiences that have prepared me for a career in education.
- Firstly, in my four summers of being a camp counsellor, I learned how to maintain the safety of a group of children while still being an enthusiastic, encouraging leader. I also learned the value of teamwork, as running a camp requires collaboration between all the staff. Additionally, I learned how to facilitate in-depth conversations, as running discussion groups with our campers was a requirement of the job.
- Secondly, I was the student council Vice President of Finance, which taught me the importance of organization. This is a valuable skill to have when managing 20+ students and elaborate lesson plans.
- Thirdly, I did a co-op class in a preschool, which taught me two incredibly important classroom skills: Be chill and take advantage of teachable moments. In a preschool, things happen. Children gurgle their milk, spin around, wear crazy costumes... If you spend all your time working against this behaviour, nothing else will be accomplished. However, if you embrace these unique opportunities (as long as they’re being safe) you can transform them into teachable moments. If they lead you to a magical forest of lego and you are a fairy, you pretend to fly, while asking them though-provoking questions. If two students are arguing over a toy, you guide them through conflict resolution. Though I’m hoping to work with older students, the basic principle of being easy going still applies.
There have been many experiences that have led me to pursue a career in education, but the essence of the reason is in an experience with a camper I had one summer. The camper was very sweet, however she had an affinity for the word “no”, which prevented her from participating in many of the activities. Every day, I tried different strategies to help her experience all camp had to offer, but nothing worked. By Thursday, I was very discouraged. As the other girls in my cabin excitedly got ready to go on a canoeing adventure, she began to cry and refused to join the others. After sending the other campers with the lifeguard, I sat down with her. Throughout the week, I had noticed that the singing time seemed to peak her interest, so that’s what we did. Once she was calm, I told her that she would be going in the canoe with me for the duration of three songs of her choosing. To my surprise, she agreed. Though she was nervous throughout the experience, when we returned to shore, she ran up to the first girl she saw and exclaimed “I love canoeing!”. That is why I want to be a teacher. I have seen first hand how tenacity can cause a small but significant change in a child’s life and getting the opportunity to spend my career doing just that would be a gift I would not dare waste.
Select one extra-curricular or service activity that you have been involved in and tell what you have learned from this process.
One of the cornerstones of our school’s annual banquet, for which I led the planning committee, is the opportunity to take quality photographs together. Unfortunately, the only place available that was within our price range did not have an aesthetically pleasing exterior. When I presented this issue, the committee executives replied there was nothing we could do. This taught me a very important lesson: Just because someones says “it won’t work” doesn’t make it true. Thus, I still researched until I found a beautiful city park we could use for photos ten minutes away from the venue, which presented a roadblock: transportation. I told the planning committee about my idea, and after some discussion, we came to the solution of renting busses, showing me that group work can solve just about anything. Then, the question was how do we actually rent buses, which led to the third lesson: when you’re lost, consult someone with experience. Our vice-principal helped us sort out the rental issue, and from there, everything was smooth sailing. Most importantly, we got our pretty photos. In short, planning spring banquet taught me that when you are tackling a challenge, persist against doubts, talk with people until you find a solution, and seek advice.
Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why.
When I told my oldest sister that I tend to be detail-oriented, organized, and decisive in group projects, she didn’t believe me. At home, she sees the side of me that is more easy going, and unlike her, I don’t make my bed everyday. This taught me that people are multifaceted; who someone is really depends on the situation they’re in. As a student, I am very grades-oriented, meaning that I will always do whatever it takes to achieve the best grade possible, leading me to dedicate a great amount of hours and effort into my work. Because of this, I have to consciously work on balancing this with a healthy social life. As a friend, I am loud and like to laugh, but also like to be there to listen when my friends need to talk. As a leader, I generally take my big ideas and the big ideas of those I’m working with and then try to find practical ways to implement them. This leads me to make lots of lists and delegate to those who have the specific skills to implement the vision. As a subordinate, I follow instructions closely, and act with the goal to please my administrator. This often leaves me with extra work, which I’m generally happy to do. I am most proud of anytime I am able to make someone feel valued.
What is important to you and why?
When I think about what I value, what sustains me, what I would hold onto if I had to give everything else away, I think about my relationships. The people I have met in my life have shaped me into who I am, and are invaluable to the core of my being. My mum has shown me what being a servant leader looks like and how you can treat people with a balance of kindness and humour. My dad has taught me the value of determination and working tirelessly for good and for the people you love. My sisters have taught me how to differentiate when to work and when to rest. Interacting with my friends has revealed that sometimes the people you can laugh with are the same people you can philosophize with. Most importantly, my relationship with God is what keeps me grounded no matter where I am in life. These relationships are what is important to me. They are what will keep me motivated and inspired in the midst of failure. They are what will encourage and uplift me in times of difficulty. They are what will be there after graduation, and will keep me running towards the finish line. The people I love are what make me the person I am, because they push me to be the best of who I am, but love me even when I’m not.
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