Usually, I'm pretty good at vocal introductions, once I get past the nerves of approaching someone that I'm unfamiliar with, but when it comes to introducing myself in the written word, I always fall short.
I'm a senior Language Arts Education major, which is awesome because I get to look forward to constant first days of school and summer vacations in my future. I hope to teach high school level English, which is something that I enjoyed when I was a teenager in those classes. My goal in my career is to help my students to enjoy, or even tolerate, reading and learning as much as I did. The courses I take within my major often revolve around literature, but one of my favorite classes I took in my college career was Classical Mythology - which is one of my favorite topics to learn about. There is so much I still don't know about it that I would love to know.
I always like talking about my favorite things, mainly because when I bring up my favorites, the other person in the conversation gets to talk about their favorite things as well, and it's awesome to watch their eyes brighten. Here are some of my favorite things:
Books: I can never choose one book that is my "favorite," which is why I oftentimes tell people which authors that I like. Kiersten White, Sarah J. Maas, and Victoria Aveyard are some of my favorite authors, and all of their books have been known to pull me in and not release me until the last page is turned. Some of their works include And I Darken, which is a historical fiction novel by White, A Court of Thorns and Roses, which is written by Maas, and the Red Queen series, by Aveyard. Below is the book trailer for And I Darken:
Movies/TV Shows: I'm a big fantasy/science fiction fan, so my favorite TV shows and movies oftentimes revolve around them. My favorite TV show, for example, is The 100 - a show on the CW about a group of children that are sent down to Earth to see if it's inhabitable after one hundred years of being in space after a nuclear apocalypse. Here's a trailer that sums up almost all of the TV show thus far (there are 4 seasons out):
One of my favorite movies, one in which I could watch over and over, is Red Dawn (the eighties version, though). I'm also a big fan of the Star Wars franchise. Han Solo is my man!
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| Photo by BagoGames on Flickr |
Music: I like an array of music, which is probably because I'm pretty open-minded about different genres. One of my favorite musical artists is Halsey, who is considered electropop. She could sing straight from the phone book and I would enjoy it. I grew up on country music, and I am obsessed with Broadway showtunes. My current obsession is the new Anastasia soundtrack!
So my hobbies are pretty simple - I love to read, write, and then read some more. I'm a nerd, and I even went to a BookCon over the summer, where I came home with a book haul of about nine different books. My best friend and I traveled down to NYC for the day just to go, and it was one of the most fun experiences of my life! Below is a picture of my friend (on the left) and I (right) at BookCon - note that I have a Bellamy Blake shirt on (he's from The 100), and I have a bundle of books in my hand!
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| Personal photo of my friend, Kendal, and I at BookCon in NYC. Photo from June, 2017. |
High school English: yes! That's wonderful to hear, Cassidy! I started out as a high school English teacher; it's a long story how I ended up teaching college instead, and I often wonder what it would have been like if I had stayed in high school teaching. Many of my online friends teach high school, and I am always learning so much from them! (Do you use Twitter? It is a fabulous way to connect with other teachers all over the world!) ... and I have The 100 on my to-watch list; it sounds so good, and reading your post reminded me that I really need to watch that one. Fantasy and scifi are my favorites too, although my husband doesn't like them at all, so I watch a lot of others things also (and I really enjoy pretty much everything, so that's cool). But for reading, it's almost always fantasy and scifi! Maybe you will want to write some Star-Wars-themed stories for this class! Anyway, read, write, and then read some more sounds like a mantra for this class, and I hope you will have fun with it!
ReplyDeleteCassidy, although our tastes in music and books differ, we have similarities in that we both love to read and write! I am a French major and Music minor, so I also love studying literature and a range of music. You seem like a very colorful individual! Some of my favorite authors are Haruki Murakami, Kazuo Ishiguro, and David Mitchell. Have you read any of them? The books you have read seem like something my mother would love to read, as she loves learning about English royalty. I think she might have read the Red Queen. Anyway, I think it's cool that you want to be a high school teacher. It seems like a stressful job, but I'm sure you will do well!
ReplyDeleteCassidy, what a great post, I feel like I really got to know you a lot better, I'm very impressed. Funnily enough, my dad really like The 100, he keeps telling me that I should watch it but I never really take his suggestions seriously. Now that you've recommended it though, I guess I should check it out, he's been bugging me about it for a while. Thanks again for an awesome and informative post, I look forward to seeing more from you.
ReplyDeleteCassidy, I love the pink background!! I can definitely tell you love to write, I really like your style! It is so cool that you want to be an English teacher! One of my favorite teachers from high school was my senior year English teacher! It is easier than you think to leave a lasting impression on kids that age, and you can really have the chance to help someone find their passion! I hope you stick with it and I can't wait to read more of your blog!
ReplyDeleteCassidy, I love that you are wanting to be a teacher. Personally, for me my favorite teachers in high school were my literature teachers. You have the potential to impact someone's life for forever! I still talk to my favorite high school teachers either over break or just by keeping in touch with them through Facebook. You are lucky that you will always have a summer break to look forward too! I know I was very sad this summer when I thought about how this is my last summer before entering the real world. I look forward to reading your story!
ReplyDeleteHi Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteI really love that you are wanting to be a teacher. When I think about the teachers who have heavily influenced my education, my 10th grade high school English teacher comes to mind. I don't think I would have found a love for reading and have excelled as much as I have in reading and writing if it wasn't for her. You will definitely be influencing some lives, which is awesome! I also can relate to the open mindedness regarding music. I don't have a favorite type of genre, because I like listening to them all. That's so cool that you went to a BookCon! I would love to do something like that.
It was so nice to meet you!
Hey Cass!
ReplyDeleteWhen you told me you were in this class too I got super excited!! We met in a creative writing class a year ago and that totally changed my life! For those who haven't seen my blog yet, Cassidy and I are in Alpha Phi Omega, OU's largest co-ed service fraternity, together and it's amazing! Cass, I'm so glad we get to spend even more time together this year because of this class!! I can't wait to read the stuff you right and the books you recommend for me! Please come over and see your grandchild (my puppy, Dottie, for those of you who don't know) whenever you want! YiLFS!
Hi Cassidy,
ReplyDeleteBeing a teacher will be both rewarding and impactful. I personally remember my high school and middle school english teachers the most. Writing is very vulnerable, especially to a teenagerr with so many things going on in their lives, writing can be an outlet for them to escape. High school is such a great age to teach, because you will serve in a pivotal turning point in their lives. Best of luck with your teaching!
Hiya Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteI really hope I get to meet you, because we would probably get along really really well! Most of our interests are really similar, and I'm so stoked to find someone who likes Sarah J Maas' work! I feel like she just isn't well known enough! I liked the ACOTAR series but I honestly like The Throne of Glass series better. I've read the Red Queen book, but I haven't read the next two yet. If you have any other book suggestions, let me know!
Hey Cassidy! Thank you so much for pursuing a career in teaching! We seriously need more teachers and you will change lots of lives for the better! I have to say, I was never really into reading like you, but I absolutely love music. It is so relaxing to put on some Pink Floyd and think about this beautifully bizarre universe we live in. This existence and everything in it keeps going without our will.. it seems so external yet in reality everything is completely internal. What is this place? That is what my major is about. I'm a Chemical Engineer. I love science, and I love school. Thank you for being a part of the education system.
ReplyDeleteI almost started cheering out loud in the middle of starbucks after reading that you LOVE books!! My all time favorite hobby is leisure reading. All reading is great, but when you spend an afternoon reading a book that has nothing to do with school or your studies, it is the greatest feeling in the world. I am not familiar with with the authors you mentioned, but you better believe that I wrote them down on my list. I am always on the lookout for new things :)
ReplyDeleteHi Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome that you want to be a high school english teacher! Growing up, I had not-so-great english teachers (in addition to being an awful student...so maybe just a not-so-great student at fault, but ANYWAYS) and I HATED reading and writing. Fast-forward to college and I created a blog to write for fun, LOVE this course because we get to write, and get upset when I don't have time to sit down and read a whole book by my favorite authors. I can tell by your writing that you will be able to pull in any audience you stand in front of and, due to your passion, I'm sure you will set a great example for your students and inspire them to enjoy the subject.
I look forward to reading your story! Thanks for sharing!
Hey, Cassidy! I am an English Writing major so we have a little bit in common already. I also have taken my fair share of literature courses. I also LOVE books, I could spend hours in bookstores and libraries - I actually just recently bought a candle on Etsy called "old book smell" I can't wait until it comes in the mail to see if it really does smell like old books. I just started watching The 100 on Netflix, I have made it halfway through season 2 so fa, and I really like it. If you like "Red Dawn" you might like "Tomorrow, When the War Began" it is basically Australian "Red Dawn." It's pretty good, it is also a book series. I hope you have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Cassidy,
ReplyDeleteIt is a pleasure to meet you! I have yet to actually watch The 100, but I am a huge fan of The CW's DC lineup of Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow. They are extremely campy in my opinion and I love it! I totally suggest that you check them out too! As for movies, I have yet to actually meet anyone who shares my love for the original Red Dawn. That too was campy, and I have to say that you should give the remake a second chance, for I actually enjoyed it!
I look forward to reading your stories this year!
Hi Cassidy! I wanted to take the time to comment on your blog design! I am very impressed. It looks so neatly arranged and organized. And despite what your the beginning go your introduction, I really enjoyed your writing and I think you did very well. In addition, I think that your major sounds really interesting. I noticed that you have your heart set of several periodic breaks, so you have your PRIORITIES straight! Haha. Moreover, with your education, I bet you're really enjoying this course. I'm a biology major and even I am having a good time completing the assignment for this course.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Cassidy, that’s so cool that you want to teach high school English! I am also a huge fan of science fiction movies and tv shows. I love the 100! I like that you embedded a lot of clips in your blog. I also like a lot of different genres of music. Halsey is one of my favorite artists too! BookCon sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteHi Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteEnglish is one of my favorite subjects, it's so cool that you want to teach that! The 100 is such a good show. I started it awhile back, but I'm still only on the first season because it's hard for me to watch tv shows during the semester. I also love Leap Year. That's super cool that you made a trip to NY for a BookCon! I've never been to one, but I would like to sometime. I have been to NYC though, and it's one of my favorite places to visit. Did you guys have time to see the city? If not,I definitely recommend it! Good luck with your semester!
Hi Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteYou've probably heard this before, but I think it takes a special type of person to be a high school English teacher! I mean that in the best way - I always admired how my high school teachers could promote discussion and excitement in a group of high schoolers who didn't always want to be there. The first time I realized that I really liked reading literature was in high school, thanks to a great teacher, and I am still so grateful to her today! It's fun to read about your favorite things, and I had no idea that there was a new Anastasia soundtrack! That's always been one of my favorite animated movies, so I'll have to check out the new soundtrack. I hope you have a great rest of the semester!
Hello, Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all congrats on being a senior! You are so close to graduating, and that must be extremely exciting. Anyways it is great to meet another nerd in this course. I too am a huge Star Wars and Disney fan, and I read as many books as I can! I will definitely have to check out some of your favorites.
Best of luck with the rest of your semester!
Hi Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteYou are almost finished with your college career, hope you enjoy your last year. It really seems like you have a lot of interests! It is also good to hear that you are planning on teaching something that you love. Best of luck this semester and hope that you have a great teaching career, sounds like you would be a great teacher!
Hey there Cassidy. Ahhhhh, high school english my old nemesis haha. No, all jokes aside that is great to hear! Although it was my least favorite class of all time, I believe that the class is all about the instructor. I believe that, from reading your introduction, that you will be able to incorporate different aspects into your class to keep it interesting to learn for the students. You are also passionate about what you career goals are so that will obviously show in the classroom too Im sure.
ReplyDeleteHi, Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of any of the books you listed, but I am really interested in checking them out. I have also been meaning to start watching The 100, but have yet to get around to it. I have never heard of BookCon and that seems like a really interesting event that I have to look into. I hope you enjoyed this semester so far and I wish you luck for the rest.
Hi Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I really like the design and layout you have chosen for your blog. I also like the images and videos you have incorporated into your introduction. I think it gives your blog a nice touch! I think it’s cool that you are a Language Arts Education major and congrats on being a senior this year! I hope you are having a good semester so far and I can’t wait to explore the rest of your blog!
Hi Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of BookCon, but I now know where my next vacation is going to be! Your introduction was really interesting, and you talked about so many things. I love that! You and I have some similar likes, particularly when it comes to books. You did make me feel a little old, though when you talked about electropop...I have no idea what that means. I now feel an overwhelming desire to yell at children to get off my lawn. Good luck in your future. I have a lot of teachers in my family, and although there are frustrations, they all have a deep love for what they do. Best of luck!
Hello Cassidy!
ReplyDeleteDid you decide to major in Language Arts Education because of your experience with English class in highschool or was there something else driving your decision? I’ll share with you some of my favorites: Books- “Harry Potter” and “The Power of Habit”, Television Show- “Outlander” (which is a great book as well) and “Mad Men”, and for Movies and Music- I can never pick just one.