Final Reflection

Dear Blog,
In terms of ending this blog for the purpose of the class ending this will be my final post. I would say I have changed a ton over the few short months I have been learning to understand and care about all sorts of people.  I am serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this upcoming Fall sometime. I won't know where I am going until mid-may and then around September I will be going to this place to serve the people there for 18 months. This class has reached out of the bounds of classroom preparation and prepared me to go teach any culture anywhere I am called. I'm anxious because I don't know where yet but I'm mostly excited. What I have become after taking this class is more aware, patient, and accepting. I look for ways to talk about hard issues with people I care about, I am excited to share what I have learned and am more willing to listen to what others are willing to tell me. When you are more aware of race and ethnicity you realize when others are less aware and the uncomfortable circumstances this can put people in. I've realized I have to be patient, not everyone wants to talk to me, surprise! But really, getting to know people is a two way street and when they are ready to stop and talk I am ready to meet them there. Dr. Draper put it this way talking about teaching kids, "This is the day that they are ready to learn fractions so do it again!" We are teachers, excited, energetic, and passionate about our work. If a kid asks me how to write a thesis am I really going to say, "We just went over that!" If an investigator on my mission asks if we can talk about that Joseph Smith story again am I gonna say, "ugh I've told that story like 5 times today!" That's clearly ridiculous. Patience and understanding and love for these people I haven't even met is what comes out of studying ways to teach others. I am most excited to be taught by my kids, my coworkers, friends, family, and the spirit. That's what this class has me thinking about, pondering, loving.
Carly