Before coming to NCCAT for the Kenan fellowship, I only heard wonderful things, including it will be the best professional development I have ever received, the food would be amazing, and I would make so many teacher connections. I had high expectations, yet I was nervous. I think anytime someone ventures on a new journey, nerves kick in, especially something so out of one’s comfort zone. Lucky for me, I did not have to venture into this journey alone. I had a veteran NCCAT teacher along beside me the whole time. Carrie and I are teaming up to create a summer STEM camp for the boys and girls club. Although we have different internships, we both will be collaborating on our final project together.
NCCAT was everything I expected and more! We started off day one learning about the different expectations. Although this was a much needed day, this day is what I like to call “the uneasy day” Any day one anywhere is always about figuring out the ropes and that is exactly how I felt all throughout the day even onto dinner (which was AMAZING) and on the patio. It was fun talking to different fellows, learning about their fellowship, although it felt a little awkward and uncomfortable at times since we are all trying to get to know once another. However as day two rolled around and we got the results of our Myers Briggs test, we started to learn about the true personalities of everyone there! I think it is safe to say we have a huge extrovert, judging group and I would not want it any other way!
Day two was packed with information including the test results, which helped me to learn a little bit more about myself, and the branding (which I loved and have already changed it since being back home). The different sessions about STEM and reading, the info-graphics, and the design process using empathy were some of my favorite sessions. We went hard all the way to dinner at 6 where we learned more about one another, and opened up to each on the patio with charades of course!
Day three with the citizen science scavenger hunt was by far my favorite day! Not only did I learn how to create a fun science hunt for students, I learned all some new science information, especially being outdoors. My favorite was working as a team, and figuring out the best way to complete the missions (and become number one of course, which we did!) I think I enjoyed this day the best because it really put me in the shoes of one of my students. If they were to do something like this, I would know exactly how they feel. When I first saw all the missions, I thought “Wow, we are never going to get thought this” but as time went one and time got closer to the end, we realized how we could push ourselves to complete the missions. High expectations were set and we reached to achieve them. This is such a wonderful lesson for all students to learn and benefit from.
I even enjoyed how day four was packed with lots of great information as well, and gave us a choice in matters we wanted to learn about. I cannot wait to go back and start writing grants (one of my favorite ed camp sessions) for all the different ideas flowing in my head! The end of day four though with Alumni Kenan Fellows sharing their stories of overcoming obstacles was by far the best session of the day. Learning how to get the naysayers on board and finding the marigolds really hit home for me.
A year ago, before taking the job as a STEM teacher, I was unhappy with my job because I was surrounded by people with negative attitudes who did not believe in making the same difference that I did. I knew I had to “find my marigolds” so I ventured on a journey to a new school with a new position, and I was refueled with the same passion that I had when I first started teaching. Being along side Kenan Fellows and staying at NCCAT all week also helped me to keep this passion flowing. My brain was beyond fried Friday morning, but I was also inspired to bring all these new ideas back to my school and begin working on my project. I cannot wait to continue this journey with fellows who have the same passion that I do. I will look to them to keep my passion lit. They all have inspired me in so many ways.
