Once A Student, Always A Student

I woke up this morning and my alarm clock was playing the local radio show. Aside from the normal political gossip, I heard a little history lesson on things that happened on this day in 1939. The “Wizard of Oz,” opened for the first show in Hollywood. Immediately I was transported back to one of my recitals with Cheryl Schwarz. I know there are some of you out there that recall this very recital. I am not quite sure the age of which I was when this recital took place but let’s just say a lot has changed since then. :)

The whole memory got me thinking in the importance of learning and how much we can change in grow with all the knowledge we immerse ourselves in. I have been so fortunate to take classes and learn from some pretty amazing teachers, both dance and non dance education. I think students take for granted how much of an honor it is to be a student. To be surrounded by individuals that are willing to share the knowledge that they have gained through experience and their own educational process.

I cannot express how lucky I am to teach dance. I have been searching for quite sometime what exactly is that “thing” that makes me tick. It has taken a college degree, withdrawing from a master’s program, completely uprooting my life to move back to Goodland, America, and taking a job that I didn’t initially want to take. When the hiring manager at Northwest Tech asked me to take the dance coach position, I was extremely hesitant. I had just taken the job as the Financial Aid Coordinator and I was too nervous to bite off more than I could chew. I am more than happy to admit, it was the BEST decision I could have made. I won’t say that everyday was a walk in the park but I ABSOLUTELY love what I get to do with those dancers. I love seeing the creative process, the progress that gets made, and the end product.

I think it is so important that we as educators also get involved with the learning process just as much as the teaching process. I enjoy learning from my students just as much as I love teaching them. I think some educators can get so wrapped up in the their teaching, they forget that they can still be a student. I love every opportunity I have to learn, whether it be a new combination, step, teaching tactic, or business strategy. I will work to make my studio the best that it can possibly be and I won’t ever quit taking in the knowledge necessary to keep it going! :)

Happy Friday! :)

Much love,

Shelbi