​As I reflect on the beginning of my journey into the Master of Arts degree in Education I do so with such appreciation to all of those I have encountered along the way.  I am thankful to those who recommended me to the program and to the wonderful Professors I have had during this adventure.  I actually feel I am a part of the Michigan State University family!

As a young teenager growing up in Canada it was always a dream of mine to go to Michigan State University.  I am not sure if it was my love for College sports or the fact that I had experienced competition in the United States and the passion the people seemed to have for sport. 

In 2008 I was looking for a program in coaching education since I was the President of a local Track and Field  Association.  I found two very well established programs and settled on the Graduate Certificate program in Coaching Education at Michigan State.  This course was so helpful to my position as a sport administrator and to our club,​ it far surpassed the certificate process that was ongoing here in Canada at the time.  I was learning innovative coaching techniques and I enjoyed the Certificate program so much I decided to apply to a Master's program. 

My undergraduate degree was in Psychology and Philosophy and I was interested in pursuing the Master's degree in Psychology.  In Canada I was unable to find a program that would consider me part time or online in the area I wanted to study so I decided to look at other options.  I narrowed my possibilities down to two; the University of Leicester for Forensic Psychology and Michigan State University for the Master of Arts in Education Program.  I requested information from both and I received correspondence from the University of Leicester saying they had discontinued their online program.  I was left with the Master of Arts in Education program from Michigan State University.  That is not to say I did not think it was comparable, far from it!  I did not feel I had the background knowledge to get in as I was not really a teacher even though I was "teaching" in the area of my expertise.  I decided to take a chance and I applied in the fall of 2010.  I wrote my original goal statement at that time.

I remember my husband and I were driving back from Toronto and I received an e-mail saying that I was successful in my application to the Master of Arts program in Education!  I was so excited and my journey began in the spring of 2011.  I could hardly believe it, what an opportunity it was.  As I look at my original goal statement it is not much different than what my goals are now, although my philosophy has definitely changed.  I met my first goal by being accepted into the program, however, my next goal was to learn some adult learning strategies and that has just begun!

I believe that my calling is definitely as a teacher because I enjoy being in the classroom or in a position where I can assist others in their quest to learn.  I have seen the benefit of my own learning pay off in my classroom and that has been wonderful.   My teaching has evolved from a lecture based, didactic method to one that incorporates active learning techniques where I am the facilitator. 

In the beginning, my philosophy was that "you cannot teach someone to teach".  I must admit that was an incorrect premise and my new philosophy is "you can teach anyone to teach as long as they are open to learn".  I am definitely ready to learn!  I think that is the difference in my teaching and coaching philosophy now.  Not only am I learning from my students, they in turn are enjoying their opportunity to learn right along with me!

This, for me, I hope is just the beginning!