Additional Educational Experience
Like I’ve discussed many times across my ePortfolio, being homeschooled gave me many amazing opportunities that I might not have had if I went to school. I was able to learn leadership and teamwork, explore how the world works, and give back to my community. All of these experiences combined to make me the person I am today, and I’d like to think they have made me a well-rounded person who’s prepared for life.
Scouting
For almost all of my life I have been in scouts. I started in Cub Scouts in 1st grade before moving on to Boy Scouts in 6th grade. I learned a lot between joining at six years old and finally getting my Eagle Scout at the age of 16. Scouting taught me a lot of life skills, like money management, cooking, how to be a good citizen, how to stay fit, how to perform basic first aid, and certainly how to tie knots. None of these things were the most important thing I got out of Scouting, however. What was most important is how Scouting taught me to be independent and take care of myself, how to work in a team, and how to lead others. I learned how to be independent by fending for myself while camping and pursuing my own advancement, and I learned how to be part of, and finally lead, a team as I made my way from basic to more senior leadership positions in my troop.
Room in the Inn
For several years including my first year at SPCC, me and my family volunteered with Room in the Inn, a Christian ministry where various churches and other community organizations provide homeless men with a place to stay on cold, winter nights. Our family was a part of the volunteer crew at the Harris YMCA, where all of us worked together to provide our homeless guests with a hearty dinner and breakfast, a warm bed at night, movies, fellowship, and a worship service before they left Sunday morning. It was always wonderful to meet these men, and they were all very kindhearted people who would tell us stories of their lives, childhoods, and the struggles they went through. It was hearing about these struggles that was the most eye-opening for me; it made me better appreciate what I have, and appreciate the strength of these men in overcoming obstacles. Volunteering with Room in the Inn was an amazing way to help my community and directly make a difference in someone’s life.
Archery Instruction
Starting in the fall of 2020, I began teaching archery for the homeschool program at the Brace YMCA. I have now been teaching archery for just over a year, and just recently got my own National Archery in Schools Program Basic Archery Instructor qualification, after working with another instructor. Since I began teaching, I’ve consistently had 30+ students; some of them have even competed in competitions through NASP. I have been responsible for class planning, inventory and maintenance of our twenty or so bows as well as our arrows and other equipment, and teaching. My teaching experience from Scouting helped me when I began teaching and continues to help me to this day, and I have learned a lot about teaching on top of that. With so many students, I’m learning to work with different learning styles. I’m also learning how to strike a balance between being a friend to my students while still making it clear who is in charge. In addition, I had the opportunity to manage the logistics of our competitions last year, as they were remote. I love my job teaching archery; I’ve been able to build relationships with my students, watch them grow, and improve my teaching skills, all while doing something I enjoy.