To be really honest, I have been so excited and overwhelmed by being chosen as a Kenan Fellow that I haven’t given a lot of thought to what I want out of this experience. I know that there are so many wonderful opportunities and I have already learned so much from my mentor. In just two weeks with my mentor and two days of NCCAT I have gained more than I could have imagined. So wrapping my head around what more I could want is a little challenging.

The first thing I’d like to gain from this experience is relationships. Until yesterday, I didn’t even know what the BRAC region was, much less that I was a part of it. Now that I’m aware, I am encouraged that there are other teachers in my area working toward the same goals I am, just in different ways. I hope that through this experience I can build relationships with those teachers and that we can become resources for one another. I also hope to continue to grow my relationship with my mentor. She is such a wealth of knowledge and I have learned so much from her already. I hope that we can build a relationship that continues even after my externship has finished.

I’d also like to (continue to) gain content knowledge related to alternative energies in my county. This is absolutely a growing industry that needs my students and I want the knowledge and experience to inspire and encourage them to become a part of this industry. The little bit I have learned so far has been just enough to get me excited about all the possibilities! I have the enthusiasm! Now I just want to keep learning more.

Finally, what all of this boils down to, is that I hope to gain experiences from the Kenan Fellowship that will ultimately help me to become a better teacher. I was super intimidated coming into NCCAT because I know that Kenan Fellows have a reputation for being the best and the brightest! There is such a wealth of experience and knowledge and creativity within the program and I hope that during my year of service as a Kenan Fellow that I can glean as much as possible, and take every opportunity I can to grow and learn and improve.