Defining my Moment: Goal #1 from the 30 Goals Challenge for Educators -



" God does not ask perfect work but infinite desire"
                                                                           ( St Catherine) 

photo by ELT pics


             
            Last weekend I was invited by Shelly Sanchez Terrel to be interviewed for the 30 Goals Challenge for Educators. I could not describe the feeling of happiness and scare at the same time; a mixture of happy feelings and a bit scared by the challenges we have to face just when you think the Earth had stopped spinning and nothing else will happen to challenge you. Well, it has not stopped and it will never stop! And this is the reason why I decided to make a change in my life, for better, I hope, and share this moment with you here. 

            2012 was a very peculiar year in my life as I would never expected so many changes were to happen. I had to change my job after 18 years working in the same place. At first it seemed that there was no life outside, no light , no floor, nothing. And I thought , innocently, that I was ready for such a big change. I was not ready at all. However, it was about time for a change. It was time to innovate, to see the outside world with other eyes. Time to make new friends, to get to know new people,  to reinforce old and solid friendships, to cover the mirrors , forget the outside and look at me inside. 

            As an educator, it was time to re-start, to find something different to make me feel motivated and to find new ways to motivate the others rather than giving up. 

                                            photo by ELT pics



" There's nothing permanent, except change"
                                          ( Heraclitus 535 BC - 475 BC )
               
         Thanks to all these changes and to the priceless support of my family, friends and colleagues, I started to get familiar with a brand new world full of wonders and wonderful people. I met friends and people from everywhere .Some of them I have never met face to face. However , it's as if we have lived our lives together for a long time. What a great world full of amazing people!  I also had the opportunity to visit lots of new places and make my PLN grow. In addition, I have tried to make the most I can of my teaching and learning. 
  
        So here I am a year later, on August 2013. Now I find myself completely different, still facing a lot of big challenges and having to be wise when making choices. This is how I would like to introduce  goal #1:" Define your moment". 
     
        The word cloud below shows a bit of  what my moment is like:

                                                picture created by Roseli Serra



        
        2013 has been a very special year, indeed! A hard-working year, but still very special! The first surprise was to become a blogger and have my thoughts read by people from all over the world. In addition, I had this blog nominated twice for the respectful Teaching English British Council award as the blog of the month. And this is just my 9th post! I could never imagine this could happen to me the same way I would never imagine I would be here writing this post thanks to Shelly's invitation. 



         It's not that easy to define your moment, specially when your moment is a complete mind map full of things to do , deadlines to meet and dreams to come true. This is the moment I should start thinking about how I can perform my plans and achieve my goals. This is my turn, my moment to become a more independent professional. It does not mean I do not want to or that I am not bound to an institution. I am,  and I am really thankful for the place I work and I am happy to work there. I am also happy for the SS I have and for what I do. However, it is time to make things more independently, by myself. 

        I have heard, from a lot of colleagues, a kind of mantra which says:" I am not only an English Teacher". Yes, I am not, although sometimes I feel this is what I am most of the times: An English teacher, an educator and an educational psychologist. Being all this, this is my moment of producing and discovering the new. I  am trying to bear in mind that I should never worry if I am impressing people by doing extraordinary things. I am not doing any extraordinary things at all and this is not my goal. I am just trying to be a better person and a better professional. This is my goal for the moment. 

      How could I become a better educator? I am a believer. I believe in studying, in better practices, in caring and sharing. Yes, I am a believer. And I think caring and sharing make me feel great both as a person and as a professional because if I care and share, I will be able to  make my SS feel they are progressing and lead them to learner independence. 

                                                                                                                                  
photo by ELT pics


 " Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school. "  (Albert Einstein)

This is my moment of reflection and there are lessons I do want to apply to my life:

  1. Never, ever be afraid of the new
  2. Be brave to share, be brave to try, be brave to recognise your mistakes and learn from them . 
  3. Intelligence is a gift, but wisdom values more
  4. Unpack the standards and use them to develop new teaching and learning goals. 
To sum up, if I had to pick a defining moment as a teacher and/or as the learner I am, it would be something that began last year and which is leading to something even greater next year. You all get the idea: Nothing is too small! 

Enjoy your teaching!

24 comments:

Theodora Papapanagiotou said...

I couldn't agree more!! Keep up the good work Roseli!!!!

Ana Maria Menezes said...

Dear friend,

I'm so glad I'm part of this new moment in your life when you're discovering so much more inside yourself. CONGRATULATIONS on journey within yourself.

Sarimi said...

I loved it! Thanks for sharing your ideas and achievements.
I also have a blogspot focusing on education and learning disabilities. Hope you'll check it out! http://dontwarwickbehappy.blogspot.it/

Unknown said...

Roseli,
Your posts are always so inspiring and I feel like reading every single word!

Roseli Serra said...

Dear Ana Maria,
I thank God to have you in my life, as a friend, mentor and colleague. I have no words to thank you for new every step I've taken. You are inspiration and you do know what I mean!

Roseli Serra said...

Dear Roberta,

To have you reading my posts is pure honour for me. Thank you so much for encouraging me every single time I write something. Your encouragement is priceless!

Roseli Serra said...

Hi, Saoirse
It's a pleasure for me to have you reading my posts. congratulations for being brave enough to talk about learning disabilities. I am looking forward to reading it!

Roseli Serra said...

Sweet Theodora,
Thank you so much for your comment and kindness. And congratulations you too!

Ayat Tawel said...

Dear Roselli,
That's a very interesting post which I really enjoyed reading and made me think of my moment as well as learn from yours as well.
Wishing you all the best :)

Roseli Serra said...

Dear Ayat Tawel,

I thank you for reading and I am glad it inspired you to think about your moment. If you decide to share, I am sure I'll have a lot to learn from you too.
Cheers!

Maria Bossa said...

wowowow... this is really amazing!! THE moment...
Dear Roselli, your post has showed some interesting facts which I need to think about! Thanks a lot!! Tons of smiles from your Argentinian neighbor, Maria :)

Teresa Gomes de Carvalho said...

Dear Roseli, what a post! Life can be tough, but we can be tougher. I was truly inspired by your words!

Roseli Serra said...

Dear Maria,

You really made me blush! Thank you so much for such exciting comment! Words like yours indeed make us move beyond! Loads of hugs and kisses form your Brazilian neighbours!

Roseli Serra said...

Dear englishgoround,
What wise words ! Yes, we are stronger! And life is great! Thank you so much for such positive words!

Marisa said...

Great post, Roseli!!! Thanks for sharing such an insightful experience as yours. Your thoughts are inspiring.
Hugs,
Marisa

Anonymous said...

Hey Roseli,
Inspiring words indeed!! Know the feeling... Been through the same path...now, strong as an Oak!!! Jonathan

Vicky Loras said...

Bravo Roseli!

Bravo for being so brave after that major change in your life - I know how that feels and I am so happy that great things and only great things came out of it!

We are all so proud of you!

Beijinhos,
Vicky

Roseli Serra said...

Dear Vicky,

Thank you so much for you lovely comment and positive words. It makes me feel so brave and willing to write more, to share more, to do more!

Muito obrigada!
Beijinhos,
Roseli

Roseli Serra said...

Dear Jonathan,

Thank you so much! It's so nice to have people around me who share the same feelings as they have been through similar situations. That's why I believe that "to really care means to dare to share" (Gertrude Moskowitz)

Thank you for reading and for your encouraging comment.

Cheers
Roseli

Roseli Serra said...

Dear and sweet Marisa,

I am so happy and proud you feel inspired with my words. Thank you so much for reading and for all the support you have given me.

It's a pleasure to have people like you in my life.

Lots of hugs,
Roseli

Ale Gotardo said...

Dear Roseli,
What you've shared about your last 12 months fits me like a glove!
Thank you for that and for all the great posts you have shared with us so far.
Looking forward to the next ones.

Roseli Serra said...

Daer Ale,

Thank you so much for such beautiful words. Comments like yours make me feel like exploding of happiness! I feel as I've really achievd my goal: Sharing , making some kind of good to people and believe that it's worth to be an educator.
Thank you for your kindness!

Cheers!
Roseli

BANDUNG INTERNET PHOTOGRAPHY said...

nice blog

Roseli Serra said...

Hi Ikan,

Thank you so much! I'm happy you like it.

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