2010 was the year I defined who I am on my blog.
2011 is the year I am finding my place in our community.
It's no secret that I am an idea person. I am not an executer. That's where Heather and Tina come into play: they push me and provoke me and I love it. And I produce results. But it took that collaboration of ideas and motivations to get me there.
In my Intro to Education class, we are currently discussing learning styles and how to cater to and challenge students when your classroom is full of all different types of learners. I am supremely interested in this topic, and I LOVE the class.
In Interpersonal Communications we are learning about our self-concept and how that defines how we define ourselves to others. It's all very complicated, or is it? This is officially the best class that I have ever taken and I hand an inkling that I like to work in groups the other day, THEN we took a learning style quiz in Intro to Ed, even though we didn't know that that's what we were doing, THEN my quiz revealed that I am a group-oriented, hand-on learner! Like, this blew my mind.
First, I start my sekrit collab project that many of you already know about (not so sekrit after all), THEN the discussions in my classes start to mirror each other (how bizarre), THEN I realize, I have found my place in our community.
While I spent last year deciding if I want to be a literary agent, a teacher, a writer, a whatever, I never looked at the obvious: I want to be a collaborator and help other writers define themselves as I continue to define and expand my own writing. Win-win 100%. I can do all of those things above and work in groups. Wow, I am brilliant.
With that said, I am developing the collaboration idea and will get back to you on that in a big way, but in the meantime, explore a little. Ask your CPs to write a little ditty with you. Look at collaborative works around you in literature, art, music, your parenting, wherever, and think about why it works.
Naysayers be warned: In time, I'll change your mind.
I can safely say that I have never been this excited about anything in my life.
Yay! I'm glad I can be part of it, Jon!!! I am also excited how your college courses are not only educational but encouraging as well.
ReplyDeleteStars in line - that is awesome. And I feel that way about working with you, Jon. Like, I don't think I'd want to collab with anyone else, but you just have an energy about you that I want to be a part of! Yes, collabs seem to be the perfect niche for you, and as I've been saying since last spring, I have so much to learn from you! And hopefully you can learn something from me, as well (although promise you won't pick up any of my disastrous organizational skillz. That would be bad)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear more about your sekret projects with Heather and Kelly and everyone else you collab with!
I love hearing stories like this :) It's great to know how the decisions you make, the ones you maybe weren't so sure about at the time, turn out to be some of the best decisions ever!
ReplyDeleteI love the title. And I love that everything is coming together for you at this moment in time. And I love how EMPOWERING it is. Keep on keeping on!!! What magic you have discovered about and for yourself.
ReplyDeleteI love that you are finding your place - that is so very important. And I am equally glad I am getting to know you this year! Win-Win is right...
ReplyDeleteYay! It's wonderful to hear you more upbeat. I'm glad things are coming together for you, Jon! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's fantastic. So glad you're finding your place in the world. :)
ReplyDeleteAw, I love this! I love that you're discovering yourself and sharing the journey with us. A little self-discovery is good for all of us, no matter whether we think we're "lost" or not.
ReplyDeleteI'm not good in groups. I prefer one on one, all the way. However, I can work in small groups. :) I collaborate beautifully with my husband. We can parent, live, love and write together. He even works from home and our boys are home schooled so we are all four of us together ALL THE TIME. And i'm happy. This works for me.
I'm sure, though, were I to do one of those tests, I'd discover I'm a loner. My husband knows that one of the greatest gifts he can give me is TIME ALONE. I relish it, because it's such a rare treasure.
I'm so looking forward to where your discoveries are going to take you Jon. And I'm looking forward to learning a little more about myself along the way. :)
I love your blog and how you have such a strong sense of where you are headed. I'm also gay btw so when I found your blog I was like (oh instantly "follow"). :))
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool that you're liking your classes and finding your place in the world. So happy for you.
ReplyDeleteCool--I love those types of revelations. You make me miss my college days. I used to love communications classes too. :)
ReplyDeleteI love how you have been so intuitive about this and have worked it out yourself. It seems as if you can trust yourself and this will all work out. SO COOL. And I'm excited what this means to me!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're excited! Yay that the stars are aligning for you! :)
ReplyDeleteHooray for good news!
ReplyDeleteI've been blown away by how you've managed to find so many great people out there so quickly!
By the way, I posted a shout-out about your blog on one of mine yesterday.
My Writing Blog
When you commented on our blog the other day, I thought I recognized you. Yep, it was Writeoncon. That's when christy and I met and started our blogging partnership. And yes, we want to collaboratively write in time, also.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're finding your way and wishing you the best of luck.
erica
Star alignment is definitely nothing to sneeze about! Great stuff. I have my students work in groups all the time - watching them think and work and collaborate is awesome. They learn better and learn other ways of doing things!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so happy and bubbly inside. BIG step. Big things happening. It's amazing the ways in which we discover who we are. It's very rarely in big moments. Usually small moments that no one else takes note of except you. Because you're changed inside.
ReplyDeleteLove love love.