It was an epiphany to re-read my Goal Statement two and a half years and a lifetime of learning later. Wow! What I expected to get out of this program and what I actually achieved are worlds apart.
According to my goal statement, I wanted to become a media specialist because I found working with students rewarding. I stated, "Teaching my students how to use and appreciate our media center is an enriching experience for me, especially as I see how it impacts their lives and the lives of their families." This program, and the comments from my professors have reinforced what an awesome responsibility it is to work with children and how you treat them makes such a difference in their lives. Yes, I learned Children's Literature and How to Teach a Reference Lesson, but what I learned most from this program is to always show compassion and respect to children. I believe my willingness to accept them unconditionally will build a strong foundation to open their minds to learning and exploring.
According to my goal statement, I wanted to become a media specialist because I felt my strong background in marketing and management would be beneficial in helping me deal with the administrative end of a media program. I stated, "In many ways (working in the media center) calls upon my business skills -recruiting parent volunteers, budget constraints, diplomacy when working with teachers." This program made me realize that not every system is as fortunate as ours in providing resources. Program Administration is not just the name of a class. It is a complicated process influenced by budget, selection policy, and program goals and objectives which are all influenced by the curriculum and your population. Information Literacy is not just the name of a class. It is the intricate relationships formed when the media specialist and the teachers work together to integrate information literacy and technolgy in the context of the curriculum. That process and those relationships are what stand out to me as a result of this program.
Finally, according to my goal statement, I wanted to become a media specialist through the University of Georgia's program because of my desire to be a technologically competent media specialist. I stated, "Not only is this a path to the media specialist position, but it is also an opportunity to learn and refine the technology skills needed for this career. There is no doubt technology skills are becoming an invaluable resource to the media specialist." This program went above and beyond in giving me a firm technology background. In December of 2004, when I drafted my goal statement, I could not even articulate where I wanted to go in terms of technological knowledge. This program far exceeded my expectations in what I can do and more importantly, what the media specialist can and should do for her teachers and students when it comes to technology. We scratched the surface on so many technology components. I hope that my new found knowledge is something I share with teachers and students and also continue to develop going foward.
Of course, this program helped me to achieve my ultimate goal of becoming a media specialist. It was delivered in a flexible, yet challenging and satisfying way. While it has been some of the most difficult years of my life, it has also been some of the most rewarding. Not only have I emerged from this program with the degree and knowledge to be successful in my career, I have established relationships with people in the profession who will be a part of my life forever.