Purpose

Initially, when I found out I’d have to keep a public blog of my  YAL readings for class, I figured this website would be just that. Or, at least that is what I’d told myself in order to obtain the courage to even create the site.

The professor simply wants us to read a variety of young adult novels that we’d teach in our classrooms and write a review as it relates to our course, ECI 521 Teaching Literature for Young Adults. Now, that should seem easy enough.

However, that’s not the case for me.

See, my writing is personal. Really, it’s the single most important personal thing I own.

My love and exploration of literature helped me to discover this at an early age. It’s unlocked many avenues in which I’ve chosen to express my passion and live out my purpose. An education blog is a part of that vision.

A graduate degree is a part of that vision.

Teaching high school English is a part of that vision.

You see, for me, it is all connected.

Now, being faced to realize those dreams, and all at once, is a wild experience. Presenting my thoughts, seriously, in the public domain makes me feel vulnerable.

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The Name

I grappled back and forth with ideas of what to call this blog. With the initial purposes of class intent in mind, I needed it to be scholarly. However, with the necessity to always stay true to me, I needed it to be poetic and have some spunk.

Personal Intent

I will always be grateful to Dr. Young for pushing me out of my comfort zone to create this blog. Like I previously mentioned, it is the realization of a long imagined vision. Although I was frightened, I immediately saw the power in this opportunity. So, I’ve decided that I will continue this blog beyond the completion of the course.

Here are some ways it will serve:

• This blog will serve as an accountability partner in reflecting on my reading of  YAL.
• This blog will track my growth as a writer and thinker.
• This blog will assess how I apply my learnings of teaching YAL to chosen and required texts throughout the MAT program and in my classroom.
• This blog will allow me to model academic skills and strategies that I aim to nurture in my scholars.
• This blog is a fun way for me to document my reconnection with my love for literature.

This journey is a long time in the making.

Cheers to finally doing it!

-Tiffany