Transitions
Amanda Stowe
Growing up I dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player. I was able to fulfill this dream when I graduated in 2002 and started a career playing professional basketball around the world. It was through my career playing basketball overseas that I was able to start teaching and coaching at various International Schools in Europe. I found myself thoroughly enjoying my experiences at the International Schools I was able to work at and during this time found a hidden passion in education. It was this point in time that I found the online Master of Arts in Education program at Michigan State University and knew this program was for me.
We were asked to identify our educational goals when applying to this program. My first goal was to begin my transition from the world of a professional athlete to an educator at an International School. My second goal was to be a leader for my students and athletes, and also someone who can work with the individuality of a particular student or athlete while managing group dynamics. As I look back at my goals and reflected on them, I still think that these are the main goals that I have for myself now, with the addition of a few new ideas and ways of thinking.
My transition into the world of education has begun. I am still playing professional basketball but also working at the International School of Luxembourg. The classes and coursework I have taken over the past two years have really helped me with my transition into the classroom. I have been able to directly apply what I am learning to my students and athletes and doing this has helped find what works, what doesn’t work and most importantly how to improve myself as an educator and coach.
I still think it is important to grow as a leader. As a professional athlete, I am able to bring the real world of sports to the students. I am a person the kids look up to and want to be, and want to continue to be this for them. As a teacher and coach I am completely accessible to the students and they see firsthand how I believe sports and physical education are so important from an early age.
I have been interacting with people from many different cultures, and teaching and coaching kids from all over the world. I want to continue to enhance the individual differences of the children, while they are part of a classroom or team. I listen to students, which enables me to adapt and learn from them, as they learn from me. I feel that great educators are always in the process of learning. I am always looking for ways to motivate and challenge students, and create and adapt ways to help them learn and have fun while doing so.
The completion of my MAED program has taught me so much, and introduced me to so many new ways of thinking about myself as an educator and as a coach. I am very happy and confident with what I have learned from this program, and how it has helped shape, strengthen, and enhance my educational goals.
We were asked to identify our educational goals when applying to this program. My first goal was to begin my transition from the world of a professional athlete to an educator at an International School. My second goal was to be a leader for my students and athletes, and also someone who can work with the individuality of a particular student or athlete while managing group dynamics. As I look back at my goals and reflected on them, I still think that these are the main goals that I have for myself now, with the addition of a few new ideas and ways of thinking.
My transition into the world of education has begun. I am still playing professional basketball but also working at the International School of Luxembourg. The classes and coursework I have taken over the past two years have really helped me with my transition into the classroom. I have been able to directly apply what I am learning to my students and athletes and doing this has helped find what works, what doesn’t work and most importantly how to improve myself as an educator and coach.
I still think it is important to grow as a leader. As a professional athlete, I am able to bring the real world of sports to the students. I am a person the kids look up to and want to be, and want to continue to be this for them. As a teacher and coach I am completely accessible to the students and they see firsthand how I believe sports and physical education are so important from an early age.
I have been interacting with people from many different cultures, and teaching and coaching kids from all over the world. I want to continue to enhance the individual differences of the children, while they are part of a classroom or team. I listen to students, which enables me to adapt and learn from them, as they learn from me. I feel that great educators are always in the process of learning. I am always looking for ways to motivate and challenge students, and create and adapt ways to help them learn and have fun while doing so.
The completion of my MAED program has taught me so much, and introduced me to so many new ways of thinking about myself as an educator and as a coach. I am very happy and confident with what I have learned from this program, and how it has helped shape, strengthen, and enhance my educational goals.