So, I’ve recently realized that a lot of people
probably don’t know much about my college plans/reality right now (let’s be
real, it’s kind of been confusing me lately, too). So here's an update.
Back in August, I started at MOState with a declared
Global Studies major and double minor in Linguistics and Spanish, hoping to
pursue English as a Second Language Education (ESL). Partway through the semester, though, I found
a TESOL minor, which would allow me to leave college with a teacher
certification for ESL. But see, to
declare the TESOL minor, I would need to be a declared Education major. I talked with a Spanish advisor, and things
started to change.
I’m literally having to restrain myself from bouncing
up and down while typing this. I AM SO
EXCITED for where God has taken all of this, and I CANNOT WAIT to see where He
continues to take it all.
So I talked with a Spanish advisor and the Honors
College advisor, and I dropped both my minors (don’t worry it gets even more
drastic). Then, keeping my Global
Studies major, I added a Spanish Education major (really, there’s a much longer
name for it, but I don’t feel like writing it all out). But here’s the catch: my Spanish Ed. major is
through the Language Department, not the Education department, so the major is
considered a B.S. instead of a B.S. Ed., the latter being what I need to
declare a TESOL minor.
I’ve been confused a lot these past couple months
trying to figure it all out, but I’ve been placed with (in my opinion) the best
advisors on campus who have been more helpful than I could have ever
imagined. My Spanish advisor is doing
basically everything she can to make sure my graduation track looks exactly as
I want it to look.
{ Side Note: Not to put a college plug in, but if you
haven’t considered Missouri State at all yet, it really is an amazing
school. If my experience with advisor’s
doesn’t convince you of that, well, I’ve got plenty of other stories that will.
}
After Spring Break, I start on my education track. I
AM SO STINKING EXCITED. Really though, I
never (NEVER) imagined myself taking an education class. I thought, "I’ll take my culture classes and Spanish classes, and then I’ll take
the few English classes that I need for a TESOL minor." I have always adored teachers and loved the
work they do, but I never imagined myself in their shoes. But now, here I am, an education major who
can’t sit still when she talks about it because I AM SO EXCITED.
Sorry I keep using caps lock, but I can’t seem to
express just how excited I am for all the opportunities even the next year of
classes are going to bring to learn about education.
Here’s the thing: I sat in class for a lot of high
school, wanting to be a tutor or help people better understand their
schoolwork, but I never even thought of being a teacher. It’s amazing to me just how God works. I don’t know how I would have reacted before
college if I thought about an education degree.
I had absolutely nothing against it, but I had my heart completely (and
only) set on Global Studies and spending four years learning about cultures
(which, thanks to my double major, I will now be doing over the span of five
years). Now, I’ll still be studying
cultures, primarily the Latin American culture, but combining it with my
language and education studies. I just
think it’s the coolest thing ever that there’s a way to overlap two majors that
could seem so totally different.
Anyways, that’s enough about school. Now let’s talk about other things. I’m in the process of rushing Gamma Alpha
Lambda (GAL), the Christian sorority on campus, and it’s been a complete
blast. I’ve already had chances to get
to know new people and find a place on campus.
It’s really a great group of girls.
I’ve found a roommate for next year, and we already have a suitemate,
too!
I started going to CRU a few weeks ago, as well, and I
can’t tell you what a blessing that’s already been in my life. There was one Thursday night at the beginning
of the semester that I just had this gnawing feeling inside of, “Alli, you
should really go to CRU tonight. You
NEED to go.” So I went. And it was exactly what I needed that night. From then on, I knew CRU was the spot for me.
It’s been amazing to me this semester to see God
work. It’s been so so cool to see Him
working out all the kinks in my majors-and-minor confusion. If it hadn’t been for Him, I probably
wouldn’t have gone to CRU that night, and I probably wouldn’t have joined GAL,
two groups on campus where I’ve really found my place (that campus slogan
really does describe a lot of college life).
God’s taken me down a crazy path academically that’s had a bunch of
changes, but it’s been so fun to see it all start to come together. When I first declared the Spanish Ed. major,
I wasn’t so sure how I felt about it. But
I’m just a few weeks away from my first education class, and I honestly don’t
think I’ve ever been so excited about a class (and I’m currently in a lot of
really fun culture classes). I’ll get a
taste of teaching this summer at Taellor’s House, and then the education
classes kick into full gear.
And I can’t wait.
I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM GOD IS SO GOOD AND COOL AND FANTASTIC.
Okay, I’m done with caps lock now.
