The Never Ending Story was one of my favorite movies as a
young child. It was a tale full of imagination focusing on an
impossible journey. There are ups and downs, cheers and tears
for the main character, but it is perseverance that wins in the
end. This is how I feel about my journey through the Master of
Arts in Educational Technology from Michigan State University. Earning a second master’s degree while teaching full time, participating in two bowling leagues, not to mention softball on top of that in the summer? An impossible journey! However, I have persevered, and within three semesters will be graduating with my MAET and an administrator’s license. My journey shall not end there. I will never give up on my learning. Earning my MAET has reignited a passion in me for learning that I will never allow to be extinguished. I have two goals that have stemmed from this reignited passion: earn my PhD. and open my own school.
My Never Ending Story
Aubrey McClain
Although I am unsure of the direction of study for my PhD, I know that I will be continuing my education past my MAET. I have desired to earn a Doctorate of Rhetoric and Composition from Columbia University for many years now. Writing is my passion, and I want to inspire as many future writers as possible. I thought that earning a PhD and teaching at the university would be the way to go. Although this would be an amazing journey, no doubt, I realize that I don’t have to teach at the university or even earn a higher degree in writing to inspire students to love the craft. I have learned through my studies at MSU that I can teach others to love writing in so many different ways. It doesn’t always have to be the old fashioned pen to paper kind of writing. My students are
creating websites and blogs and using Web 2.0 tools to write. And guess what? They LOVE it! I am leaning more toward a PhD in Educational Technology. This is the way our students are learning, and it presents a great way to keep inspiring future writers.
I would also like to one day open my own school. I want to
provide an approach to education with a combination of
technology and arts. Now, I know there are some schools
out there that claim to be “technology and arts” academies. I
just haven’t seen one that I think works. There isn’t a whole lot
of technology being used and the only art present is an art
class. I want give students not only a great education through
the use of technology, but I want them to be active in the arts
including the performing arts. I envision theater, music and
symphony, ballet and interpretive dance, and more. I want
students to know, see, and experience more than what they
see in front of them every day. Did I mention that I want to do all of this with inner-city, underprivileged students? I have no idea how to open a school. I have no idea how to get funding. I have no idea how to make this happen. Yet. Yet is the key word. I will be learning along the way on how to do all of these things.
I know my goals are lofty, but I also know that with my resolve, I will make these things happen. I will never stop learning, never stop creating, never stop moving forward. I will be like Atrayu from The Never Ending Story. No matter the obstacle in my way, I will overcome.