Climbing Mountains, Changing Directions
Original Goals
From my original professional goals statement submitted during the application process, I had three specific goals upon entering Michigan State University (MSU). First and foremost, I had a desire to obtain my Master’s Degree in Education (MAED), focusing my study in P-12 School and Postsecondary Leadership. This MAED is educationally specific to the California Department of Education, where I have been employed since 2004, and would allow me to work in the capacity of an Education Programs Consultant (EPC), transitioning to an educational leadership role in advocating for quality education programs. This classification would allow me to continue my work with high profile federal programs but at an increased level of responsibility.
Another original goal was to transition from early education public policy to the after school and safety/health promotion fields. Promoting to the EPC within early education policy would be an easier position to obtain considering my contacts, but eventually I wanted to align my work with my interest in after school policy issues. Lastly, I pinpointed a desire to pursue a second concentration area during my graduate studies, specifically the Sport Coaching and Leadership certification. This goal is vital in my original desire to eventually coach high school baseball and work in the capacity of an athletic director, which would allow me to work directly with kids, a huge passion of mine.
Reflections
The MAED is a goal I am currently working on and will be completed by the end of December. The EPC goal is essentially a reality prior to obtaining my MAED since I was able to obtain a training and development assignment in the EPC capacity with a promise of employment once I receive my master’s degree. Neither of these goals have changed since I began my studies at MSU.
The goal to transition to an educational leadership role has slightly changed now that I have worked in the capacity of an EPC and fully understand the time commitment to pursue a role in the administration for a slight increase in pay. This goal to work as an Education Administrator in a higher responsibility leadership entails occasionally working long nights and weekends, and I’m no longer convinced it’s a good fit as I’d prefer to stay one pay level down at the consultant level and allow myself more free time for recreational and leisure pursuits with my family and friends. Lifestyle and ambition must coexist in the right package.
I have completed my Sport Coaching and Leadership certification, but I now wonder if coaching or working as an athletic director is in my future. Experiences over the past few years have left me disenchanted by the politics involved in sports, particularly at the youth and high school levels, as parents become increasingly interested in trying to ensure their children obtain scholarships. I’m not sure this is a goal I still look forward to pursuing in the future, however the courses I’ve taken in positive youth development and biomechanics have made an impact on how I help my son as he prepares for high school baseball.
From my original professional goals statement submitted during the application process, I had three specific goals upon entering Michigan State University (MSU). First and foremost, I had a desire to obtain my Master’s Degree in Education (MAED), focusing my study in P-12 School and Postsecondary Leadership. This MAED is educationally specific to the California Department of Education, where I have been employed since 2004, and would allow me to work in the capacity of an Education Programs Consultant (EPC), transitioning to an educational leadership role in advocating for quality education programs. This classification would allow me to continue my work with high profile federal programs but at an increased level of responsibility.
Another original goal was to transition from early education public policy to the after school and safety/health promotion fields. Promoting to the EPC within early education policy would be an easier position to obtain considering my contacts, but eventually I wanted to align my work with my interest in after school policy issues. Lastly, I pinpointed a desire to pursue a second concentration area during my graduate studies, specifically the Sport Coaching and Leadership certification. This goal is vital in my original desire to eventually coach high school baseball and work in the capacity of an athletic director, which would allow me to work directly with kids, a huge passion of mine.
Reflections
The MAED is a goal I am currently working on and will be completed by the end of December. The EPC goal is essentially a reality prior to obtaining my MAED since I was able to obtain a training and development assignment in the EPC capacity with a promise of employment once I receive my master’s degree. Neither of these goals have changed since I began my studies at MSU.
The goal to transition to an educational leadership role has slightly changed now that I have worked in the capacity of an EPC and fully understand the time commitment to pursue a role in the administration for a slight increase in pay. This goal to work as an Education Administrator in a higher responsibility leadership entails occasionally working long nights and weekends, and I’m no longer convinced it’s a good fit as I’d prefer to stay one pay level down at the consultant level and allow myself more free time for recreational and leisure pursuits with my family and friends. Lifestyle and ambition must coexist in the right package.
I have completed my Sport Coaching and Leadership certification, but I now wonder if coaching or working as an athletic director is in my future. Experiences over the past few years have left me disenchanted by the politics involved in sports, particularly at the youth and high school levels, as parents become increasingly interested in trying to ensure their children obtain scholarships. I’m not sure this is a goal I still look forward to pursuing in the future, however the courses I’ve taken in positive youth development and biomechanics have made an impact on how I help my son as he prepares for high school baseball.