2023 Resolution Check

In January I posted a set of teacher resolutions for the year.

For many teachers, the academic year is either half over, or nearing it’s end. For the rest of us, the calendar year is approaching its halfway point. So, given the time of year — whether academic or calendar — I thought it important to revisit my teacher-resolutions.

On my list were:

Make a schedule, and stick to it, for writing here on C is for Camacho
- Still working on this one . . .
Renew all education licenses
- One state’s worth of licenses were renewed at the end of 2022, the other state’s license I decided not to renew . . .
Attend an educational conference
- Thanks to my current role, it looks like I will have to attend a conference in Salvador, Brazil–so: in progress!
Take one class or training on a subject, methodology, or technology tool that has interested me in the past year
- I have not done this yet, but I also feel like moving to a whole new country has occupied all my time for learning new things. So: sort of done?
Continue to expand my educational profile/resume
- I took a job in another country. I am absolutely expanding my educational range and resume.

As you can see, I am making some progress. I am meeting some originally intended goals.

At the same time, I have made some revisions. No one is beholden to their original plan because plans cannot be complete in their original form. Things change. I have adapted accordingly.

I think it’s important to circle-back, to hold oneself accountable. I enjoy reflecting on what I thought this year would be like, versus what it actually looks like–but what about you? How’s your year going? Any resolutions–teacher or otherwise–you’d like to share about? What did you meet, adjust, or remove altogether?

May 9, 2023: Quote of the Day

“Teachers must match the diversity of their classrooms with their own diversity of methods and materials.”

–Brookes Publishing, From Planning the Transition to Employment,

by Wendy S. Parent-Johnson, Ph.D., Laura Owens, Ph.D., & Richard Parent-Johnson, Ph.D.

Teaching & Living Abroad: Brazil 🇧🇷

Roughly two years ago, I shared that I was starting a new chapter, and a long-held teaching and personal dream: living and working abroad.

I moved to Turkey for one job, and it didn’t work out as expected. I got another role in Turkey, and that role ultimately floundered as well. It was quite the turn-of-events.

Leading up to my move to Turkey, I felt that I was about to embark on something life-changing. I was going to move and live abroad for years, maybe forever. I really felt it in my soul. Six months later I was back home.

It was an adventure to say the least. Was it difficult? Yes. Would I do it again? I don’t know.

I enjoyed being a tourist and the opportunity to travel while between jobs, but uprooting myself, disrupting my routine and my career, just to be back to square one (just six months later)–I don’t know if I could do that again . . .

Fast forward two years, I was applying to live and work abroad again. But this time I was applying with experience, with knowledge of what went wrong previously, and a list of non-negotiables.

It came down to two opportunities: one in South Korea 🇰🇷, one in Brazil 🇧🇷.

In June of 2022 I signed to begin a life in Brazil 🇧🇷 –start date: February 2023. In the ensuing six months I was cautious. I tried not to put so much weight or pressure on myself, or this opportunity. I knew from experience that anything could change, anything could fall through.

Well, 2023 is here, and I have been in Brazil 🇧🇷 for 3 months. It hasn’t been easy; it’s actually been the most difficult cultural and language adjustment to date for me. But I’m doing it.

I once shared that it is a risk and a privilege to do something like this, to move abroad, to live abroad, to work abroad. Moving away from everything familiar takes gumption. Tremendous courage. Doing it again, when the first time didn’t work out, takes even more gumption, even more courage.

I don’t know if I made the right decision–Brazil 🇧🇷 over South Korea 🇰🇷. I don’t know if this is the best career move. I do know that trying again was brave, that pursuing a dream is brave, and that just as I want my students to be brave, so too must I be brave . . .

March 23, 2023: Quote of the Day

“A well educated mind will always have more questions than answers.”

–Helen Keller

Photo by Noémi Macavei-Katócz on Unsplash

2023: Resolutions

The 2022 calendar year sort of ran away from me in terms of my educational profile and work.

I continued to expand my resume, learning, and teaching outside of the traditional classroom (webinars/professional development, DEI/DEIB advocacy through my social media platform).

I reignited my love and passion for writing and editing. I wrote on a variety of platforms for pleasure and practice. I provided editing services and/or coached students through the writing process–mainly the writing process for admission essays and dissertations; yes, opposite ends of the university experience!

I entered a new educational space (city/community programming), which challenged my pre-existing notion of learning, and planning for learning.

Life continued as planned. Life sent me to old goals and passions. Life provided me with new ideas and passions. It was a good mix, but it was a lot of change and flux that took me out of this space specifically . . .

Given this mix, a mix I have finally learned how to navigate and balance more appropriately, I am taking the opportunity afforded to us all at the start of the calendar year, and the midpoint of the academic year to all educators, to write a few goals tied to my 2022 experience.

This 2023 I plan to:

Make a schedule, and stick to it, for writing here on C is for Camacho
Renew all education licenses
- Already renewed one at the end of 2022!
Attend an educational conference
- Any suggestions?
Take one class or training on a subject, methodology, or technology tool that has interested me the past year
- Any platform recommendations?
Continue to expand my educational profile/resume

And so begins the 2023 calendar year, the rest of my school year . . . with reflection, with a little bit of the old and the new, with focused energy on continued growth and development.