Letter to My Classmates

Wow! It is really hard to believe that it is time to graduate. From the beginning of this program, I expected to be challenged, engaged, and committed. I did not expect the camaraderie I feel toward many of you as we approach this milestone together.
Honestly, I did not want to do the online cohort at first. I wanted to meet in person so that I could establish a bond with my professors and classmates. I was worried that I would not be able to bond with people through a computer. Boy, was I wrong! I enjoyed working with all of you from different counties and districts. It made our conversations real and engaging, and I have made some friendships that will last a lifetime. Through all of our many group projects, discussion boards, Zoom meetings, text messages, and more, I feel that we have become a close family who loves and supports each other.
With every class and assignment, I could feel myself becoming more knowledgeable and confident. The internship hours really pushed me out of my comfort zone and afforded me opportunities to position myself as a leader in my school. I was able to interact with more people in a impactful way. Through each semester, I have enjoyed the opportunity of being able to explore educational topics of interest and learning about the interests of others. I have researched differentiation, disproportionate suspension rates for black girls, personalized learning, collaborative discussion through technology, and digital literacy with podcasts. Each professor allowed me the autonomy to choose my interests, which helped me to create authentic work. My group projects allowed me to build rapport and community with my classmates and modeled the same techniques I use in professional learning communities. We have explored many topics, and we leave with knowledge and thirst to pursue even more.
Thank you to Rosalyn for being such a good listener and friend. If I ever have a question, I know I can call on you. I loved working with you throughout our program, but I especially loved working on our CILD presentation. We got a chance to bond and create something special. You are funny and talented, and I look forward to keeping in touch with you in the future. Catie, you have been a constant support throughout our program. I am grateful for your friendship. Every text and word of encouragement has helped me tremendously. You’ve looked at my work and given me feedback even when it wasn’t graded, and for that I am grateful! It was great to have someone who teaches the same content in my cohort! I was so happy to meet you and discover our bond was just as solid in person. Candi, you and I work so well together. You are an awesome person and friend. I enjoyed attending CILD with you and looking at things from your perspective. It felt as if we had already met, and I would not have had the same experience without you.You always make me laugh, give me support, and work hard to make sure that our work is the best. You helped me work through many frustrations, and you are a great person to be around. I am glad that I found some lifelong friends in all of you! Dana, you’re awesome! You came into our cohort late in the game, but I appreciate all of your unmatched work ethic! Lisa, you’ve been great as well! I loved meeting you on multiple occasions, and I am always excited when you review my work because I know that it will be thoughtful and constructive. I hope to meet up with you more in the future.
I would also like to say thank you to all of my professors. Dr. Parker, you pushed me to make my best even better. Our weekly meetings were my favorite part of your class. It was such a great way to see one another and get encouragement and support. Dr. Putnam, I appreciated your encouraging words and thoughtful commentary on each and every assignment. Dr. Sealy, you were encouraging, supportive, and caring. You all did your best to make our online environment one of comfort, sharing, and growth.
I am proud of the work that I have done and the sacrifices that I have made to reach this point. I am so blessed to have been allowed to pursue my degree in C&I, and I know that my learning has only just begun. This program has given me the confidence I needed in my leadership abilities and content knowledge to become a better teacher than I was before. Thank you everyone for your help with that. I made a playlist for us to celebrate our accomplishment.
Love and light,
Ashley
