Education

I. Am. So. Tired.

It's a busy week, to say the least. There are a lot of really wonderful things happening (like the bachelorette party and wedding of one of my best friends), and things that are frustrating (getting a sore throat).

Next week you will start hearing about my newest adventure: Zipcar's Low Car Diet. But, given my tiredness, I've been struggling for blog ideas.

So, I thought I'd tell you more about my pending reintroduction to the world of academia (AKA graduate school). At the end of September, I will begin the Master's in Education program at the University of Washington, in the area of Curriculum and Instruction.

So how did I get here? Just a touch over 4 years ago I graduated from UW with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a B.S. in Biology. Outside of classes, I was co-president of the Earth Club (planning Earth Week events on campus), worked on several undergraduate research projects (including studying oyster restoration ecology - yes, I'm serious), trained as a Beach Naturalist (I'm such a nerd), and volunteered and worked in a number of other capacities. I learned a lot about myself and what I liked (and didn't like) to do.

After a couple of brief stints after graduation, I started working at our local science museum. I LOVED it. Everyone else liked science. It was like nerd heaven! It was so easy to make friends, feel included, and pass an 8 hour work day! But, I'm ambitious. I wanted to advance, get benefits, and be a leader. So, I started splitting my time to teach environmental education. If I thought I was in love before, this time I was hit hard. I regularly doubted myself as a teacher, but working with kids was incredibly rewarding. I'd come home singing camp songs, exhilarated and covered in dirt. What more could you want in life? But, alas, I still needed a job with benefits, and was about to be kicked off my dad's. Note: I almost cried when I recently went to see the newly expanded and LEED-certified nature center. It's amazing.

For the past two years I've been in my current position, working on environmental programs for the art museum. I'm still amazed that I got this job. How could they have looked at me and thought I could do this? But, I learned. I asked questions. I shared ideas. I worked hard. Sometimes I forget just how much we've done (and how much I've grown). It's hard to express how grateful I am to my boss and this museum for taking a chance on me.

Why go back to school then? I love to learn, and I care about helping others to learn (especially about the environment). I'm a very academic person - in that sense, I could probably start down the path to most any career I wanted. I don't mean that to brag at all, my friends will tell you I'm sufficiently clueless about other aspects of life to make up for my book smarts. But Education is one of the most challenging fields I have ever experienced. As a teacher, I always want to do better and give more. I have a love-hate relationship with challenge.

Long term, I hope that I will work at an environmental education center again, be a leader to informal educators, develop curriculum, help build partnership between information education institutions and schools, and even mix in some green event planning and sustainability consulting (those are all about education, too). I admit it, I get bored easily. I thrive on change and building new things. For me, teaching feels that way.

It's kind of crazy how many changes I'm experiencing this year: moves, grad school, engagement. I don't love the transitions (I thrive on routine), but I do know that I wouldn't have it any other way. It's amazing to think about where life will be in a year!