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I’m a blogger!

January 7th, 2010 by

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chalkWelcome to my first blog entry! I’m Cathy and I’m in the September ’09 cohort. I live in Guilford, Connecticut, a town located on the Long Island Sound about halfway between New York and Boston. I have three children (ages ten, eight and three), three dogs, and a husband. Obviously, life is pretty hectic, as I’m sure it is for everyone else out there.

Why did I decide to become a teacher? I was a fashion copywriter for about 13 years, but traveling the two hours between home and New York was getting to be a drag. Plus, I was running out of ways to describe the perfect “little black dress” and the must-have “classic white shirt.” So, I decided to teach. Why? Honestly, at first it was because it fits my lifestyle (same schedule and vacations as my kids), and because I thought that it would be both fulfilling and challenging to mold young high school minds.

After just twelve weeks of MAT@USC classes, my perspective has changed. Now I understand that as a teacher I will have the ability to be an agent of change. To help students capture their dreams. To inspire them to be persistent and determined in pursuing those dreams. To prepare them to become righteous global citizens and stewards of the earth.

I relish the idea that this is will be my responsibility. I’m also encouraged that the MAT@USC is preparing me to be a change agent in New Haven, CT, an underserved urban school district. This program is providing me with the confidence and knowledge I’ll need to facilitate the crucial connection between parents, the community, students, my fellow teachers, and school administrators.

Remember, it’s only been twelve weeks. I’ll keep you posted on what I learn in the next twelve.

Fight on!
Cathy

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  • pamgery

    Awesome! I love that inspiring, motivating, persavering attitude that I hear in that blog! Good for you! Be all that you can be while you touch and teach all the lives that you can:)

    Pam

  • tomnewburg

    Cathy,

    This is really so, so great. I've always thought you'd be a brilliant teacher, and your enthusiasm in this post is proof positive–emphasis on “positive.” I'm completely psyched to hear about the rest of your class work, course readings and teaching experiences. Hope you'll find the time to fill us in on all, or at least some, of it. Please keep us posted.

    You're going to be an awesome teacher. We're sure of it.

    Tom & Catherine

  • Kathy Urich

    Cathy- I've been considering the MAT@USC program, I keep wondering how I will get the classwork
    done while having 3 boys(16,12,8yrs) 2 dogs and a part time job. You are pretty close to my situtation
    and I am wondering how are you doing it all? What advice do you have for a 40-something mom of 3 with
    what feels like no time on my hands but a desire to 'go for it'? Thanks Kathy U. (Suburban Phila. PA)

  • cathycassar

    Kathy—(nice name!)
    I won't lie to you, there is a lot of reading and a lot of writing…a lot of challenging work, which I'm happy about because it means that I'm getting my money's worth. : ) However, I find the readings so engaging that they fly by. The papers have been really interesting to write because they have made me view education in the US from diverse perspectives so that I can formulate my own ideas and opinions about it. I have enjoyed class time because my professors are knowledgeable and engaging.

    If you think that you can fit it in (I'm not sure how many hours you work at your part-time job), I would say go for it! Read when your kids are in school during the week. Ask friends to carpool. Tell everyone that you are getting your master's. I'm sure that your friends will help you out so that you can carve out the time you'll need. It will be an intense year or so, but not forever. I keep telling myself, “you can do anything for a year.”

    Good luck making your decision.

    Fight on!

  • Kim Castellano

    Cathy,

    I'm so glad I decided to check out the MAT@USC blogging page when I was cruising through the website. I have been, for a couple of years, thinking about entering the education field as a teacher (and perhaps someday an administrator) but could never seem to get my act together. I now see that my problem has been that I couldn't find a program that fit not only my schedule but my interests. This program seems to have everything I was looking for and more, consequently, I'm absolutely thrilled to have found it. Would you believe I had to join Facebook to get here? LOL! Even though everthing I read on the website sounded great I still had a little niggling voice of doubt in my head. Until I read your blog – your enthusiasm and excitement about the program has clinched the deal for me and I will be applying to the program ASAP. Thank you so much for your words and insights.

  • Cathy

    Kim,

    I just saw this comment. I'm so happy that my blog moved you to make that decision! I really do love this program. The more I speak with people, the more I realize that there are few programs out there that emphasize not just how to teach content, but how to teach students to learn. I have relished my experience in this program so far. Leave a comment for me to let me know how it's going when you start. Best to you.

    Cathy

  • Cathy

    Kim,

    I just saw this comment. I'm so happy that my blog moved you to make that decision! I really do love this program. The more I speak with people, the more I realize that there are few programs out there that emphasize not just how to teach content, but how to teach students to learn. I have relished my experience in this program so far. Leave a comment for me to let me know how it's going when you start. Best to you.

    Cathy