So Much to Learn

I have to admit these first couple of days I felt like Nemo caught up in the East Australian Current.  I've been holding on tight and trying to ride the current that other fellows seem so easily gliding with.  Today during our mentor session with Joe Garcia, something clicked.  Joe was talking about teaching reporting and writing to students.  His advice - "Focus and then relax."  


I, like my students, can feel overwhelmed by a task that is outside my comfort zone.  Writing my "article" on Randy Lovely was grueling.   As I finished up, I realized it was FAR from what it needed to be.  More a covering of the event, I came to the realization that  I was acting like my students.  I wanted to get it right the first time.  What an eye-opening and uncomfortable place to be.

Today, I finally let myself relax.  I quit comparing myself to others, quit expecting to get it right the first time and realized what an amazing learning opportunity this is for me and how much it can affect what I do in the classroom.

I held my first interview, via Skype no less, and though feeling unprepared and (I'll admit) a bit scared, I got through it.   My second interview was more focused and more comfortable.

I can't say enough about the idea of teaching and releasing to practice that the institute and Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication is built upon.   This little fish is learning to swim with the current and will be better equipped to help her students learn how to swim in uncharted waters this fall. 

Karen L. Swortzel
Alleghany High School
Covington, Va.