Learning brings me joy. For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed learning new things. It didn’t matter when, where, or how. I can remember being in elementary school and waiting anxiously to find out what the class would be studying next.

I can also remember taking periodic trips to the library to seek out new and exciting stories featuring character’s that I hoped would look like me. Perhaps one of my most favorite memories is of breaking out of my shell, joining a NYC acting company as a young child and pouring countless hours into studying monologues and various scripts. I can’t believe that I can still recite some of those lines today! 

This experience  led to branching out, going on auditions for commercials and print ad work. At that particular time in my life, I noticed that I was able to learn what I needed to learn best through repetition and practice. Seeing the same information in more than one way, and practicing it  in different ways helped me to retain the information I needed and then retrieve at the right time. During this process, I realized that music was a great tool or vehicle for helping me to remember information both as a student and a performer. 

As I grew older. Something changed. I stopped taking the time to pause to reflect on my own learning and I began to  worry when the idea of change would pop up. In fact, I began to fear it. But why? I had always seen myself as motivated person who enjoys trying new things, (like gardening and painting!) and seeking out new information. I believe that there are many factors that have impacted the way in which I view, analyze and react to change as an adult. 

When I became a teacher, I started to think more about my personal experiences and how they inform the way I teach. 

During this self study, I would like to carve out time each week to journal and stop and think about my own learning style. I would also like to think about how this information may inform my teaching. I plan to think about the following questions (from “7 Questions to end your week with”):

• What pleasant surprises did I discover this week?
• What lessons did my work teach me that I could build upon next week?
• What could I have spent more or less time doing?
• How did fear and uncertainty affect what I did or didn’t do?
• Are there any new opportunities for growth? How do I feel about that?
• In this moment in time, what do I notice about my own learning and teaching?
• What motivates me to take risks? What is my reaction to this change?