Monday 7 January 2013

My Tool Belt


With great pride, I can share with you that one of my most valued character traits is work ethic. As much as the myth of meritocracy has been discussed throughout my education and my understandings of it I would not trade my eagerness to help out and lend a hand any day. I have never worked a desk job nor do I intend to in the near future. I have lucked out in putting myself through University in a hands-on people oriented job which was a key fit to my social personality.  

For four summers I had the opportunity to work for an agricultural fence building company as the only woman on a crew of up to 7. This is an experience where I really grew. Beginning pretty “green” with tools and pale in colour, by the end of year 1 I could hold my own and had a pretty gnarly work boot tan to go with my new skills. More than anything I learned to work as a team. This was a strange realization for me as an athlete. I thought I had teamwork down pat. This all changed when I had to swallow my pride, work harder than ever before and know when to step up or step back. I am most proud to say that by my fourth summer I was running a crew for this same company alongside many of my coworkers from year’s prior as well as training new workers just like I once was. In reflection, I realize that my tool belt isn’t just for the field. My pouch now goes with me everywhere. Not only does my brother love the practicality of such that I can assist in his home renovations and my father in his cottage construction project, but to me it is a metaphorical reminder on a constant basis. It is a holder of my greatest achievements, traits, experiences and has the scars to prove it.

On the construction crew, every morning when arriving at the shop we would grab our pouches and get ready for the day. I learned very early this was better done after getting the daily paperwork, after all how can you prepare for something that is a surprise past the basics? We all had our own set of tools, the same basic instruments but each tailored to our own needs and preferences. Each of our pouches were organized a little bit differently mostly reflecting what we would be doing that day and what made the most sense for our ease and convenience. Most important was the realization that I could not fit everything I needed in my pouch. We had to work together to accomplish goals effectively. Last, my pouch tells a tale of summers in the field. It smells like horse from the times you get chased by a mare protecting her foal and she catches you. It has worn in specific belt loops from the 15lb flux we all go through during a summer of labour in the sun. It has bits from every job trapped deep in some pockets and finally a little bit of glitter on the edges so the boys knew it was mine.

To me this mirrors my life as an educator. Every day is a different day. As much as I can plan a lesson and/or a unit or the flow of a year, I must still equip myself with the right tools for anything to happen. I will have many similar tools to other educators, whether it be technology, knowledge, philosophy etc., however, each with my own tailoring.  Some tools, skills, methods etc., will always be hanging by your side within arm’s reach and some will be tucked in that back pocket that you forget about because it rarely gets used but is too important to not have just in case. I will always understand that my teaching tool pouch cannot be filled past what I can carry all day. I will never survive with all that weight. I instead must network, work with others. There is no need to reinvent the wheel instead borrow the right tool for it and be willing to lend mine. Right now my tool pouch is shiny and new, it tells my story as a student and is overflowing with a lot of fluff. Nothing concrete. Some lessons, a ton of ideas and some management strategies. A handful of teacher associates in my back pocket (not my most convenient pouch but always within reach). My pouch is not well decorated, instead rather depressing to look at. It is in need of interaction with students and experiences before it starts to wear. Last, nothing is fixed on my pouch. There are all sorts of accessories available and attachments for the ever changing technology and experiences waiting.


“Be prepared, work hard, and hope for a little luck. Recognize that the harder you work and the better prepared you are, the more luck you might have.”
Ed Bradley



Introduction



Hi all, 

First and foremost I thank you for showing interest in me and taking the time to get to a small taste of me through my blog. 

My name is Dee Kirwin and I’m born and raised in the small town of Embro Ontario which leads to the blog title itself “Embro Educated”.  I am a firm believer that my nature is a huge part of me (for anyone that has had the opportunity to meet my family you would agree that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree) but it is truly my experiences that I have had growing up that have shaped me into the woman I am today and will continue to grow to be. Thus the blog title seemed rather fitting as I am who I am due to my small town roots. 

I value being the well rounded individual that I am. There are few situations that given lemons I can’t make lemonade out of and I hope to share a little bit about myself with you to shed some light upon this. As an Irish gal, love, loyalty and friendship are true core values for me and this honesty goes a long ways. 

Leaving home at 17 to attend Brock was a daunting task. Most teens would be chomping at the bit but instead I was shell shocked at the idea of there being more than one grocery store in a town. Well maybe I am exaggerating a little bit, the idea of city living didn’t scare me as much as the idea of losing a part of who I am by moving away. Fortunately this quickly vanished. After a few weeks in St. Catharines I realized that Monday to Friday was just a work week for me. I buckled down on my studies and grinded through (with much success might I add).  I enjoyed my time as a student spending all 5 years at Brock but enjoyed my time most as a daughter, sister, friend, dog lover, construction worker, bartender, renovator… need I go on) during weekends back home. 

If I had a nickel for every time that someone gives me the “oh you are going to be a teacher” look… well I would be rich. But truth is I would rather be poor and teach. Growing up in the shadow of my big brother (and I mean shadow in the sense that a 6’10” country boy is very effective as a shade tree) and his success as an engineer, I often pondered what I was getting myself into. Two experiences put an end to that pondering; 1. The first time I stepped into the classroom and helped a student and 2. The first time I stepped into his engineering office and saw his head sticking out over top of the cubicle. Truth is I wouldn’t survive a job where I couldn’t interact with people on a second to second basis, or a job where every day had the potential to be the same. I need to teach and I love to teach.

Sports are another huge part of what makes me me. I learned a lot through my experiences on the court and field. Growing up tall my hopes and dreams of being a Jockey were crushed young (not that they really were great aspirations anyways). Basketball came pretty naturally as did volleyball around grade 7 when I truly learned how to control my lanky appendages that seemed to sprout longer each night I went to sleep. High school sports make up many of my most memorable experiences and a ton of life lessons. I hope to bring these same experiences to students through my teaching career. In University I had the opportunity to play varsity basketball in year 1 but found myself overwhelmed and stepped down from the team. In 4th year I refreshed my passion for Rugby when I successfully tried out for the varsity team and spent a season on the field with the girls. Finally my greatest sport passion is skiing. I don’t think that I have yet found a better way to reflect or find myself than in the back country of the Rocky’s miles away from civilization with a thermos of tea.

I hope through this you have gotten to know a little bit about me as a student, athlete and small town girl.  I look forward to this blog helping you get to know me as a professional; both as an educator and learner. I will work to post often and keep up to date with the experiences I encounter in the bright future ahead of me. 


A small town is a place where there's no place to go where you shouldn't.
Burt Bacharach