Time Well Spent

Three deeply felt learnings I've received through this course is:
1) You can do anything that you set your mind to. You don't have to sit back and watch things go downhill, you can stand up and fight for what you beleive in. I didn't know I had the potential to do that until I took this course. This course has made my dream become a reality. I now know that I can do anything I want! I will one day have my own educational center!
2) Community of Practice - I never knew what this was and never even heard of it. Now I know that you can put together a community of practice to share information between people and work together to make a difference, so you're not doing it by yourself.
3) You can overcome anything. This course has taught me more about myself than I ever knew. So many times I wanted to quit and so many nights I spent whining that I couldn't do it and I would just quit!!! But look where I am! I set my mind to do it and I did. I went through a divorce, and raising my 5 year old by myself and somehow I managed to get my masters degree in the middle of all that. Never let anyone tell you that you can't do it and never get so down on yourself that you think you can't. Find those people that will support you and push you to do your best.

My one long term goal is to open my own educational center in an area of the United States that has taken away recess from children. I believe I read in New York, they no longer have recess because they are wasting time playing and not learning. This is where I would want my center to be. In the middle of their big mess!
I have another goal of being a workshop presenter also. I need to start attending workshops on play more frequently and maybe one day I can develop my own.

To my colleagues:
It has been so great to work the past year and a half with all of you! I have enjoyed your feedback and your ideas and help on everything! Thanks so much for all you've done and good luck to you!

Dr. Teri,
Thanks so much for all your feedback! You were such a great help! You have been the best professor I've had by far! I cannot tell you thank you enough. You made me a stronger person and a better person. You helped me beleive in myself and you pushed us to do our best. You are awesome! Keep up the AWESOME work!!!


If anybody wants to keep in contact I do have a facebook account under Shanda New - not sure how many Shanda New's there are but I'm probably the only one in Colcord, Oklahoma. :)